CarMax is the first KaBOOM! corporate sponsor to serve military communities, partnership to kick off today with playground builds in El Cajon, CA and Fort Worth, TX
RICHMOND, VA, 2016-Apr-09 — /EPR Retail News/ — CarMax, Inc. (NYSE: KMX), the nation’s largest retailer of used cars, announces today the launch of a new, $5 million partnership with KaBOOM!. The CarMax Foundation and KaBOOM!, a national nonprofit organization dedicated to giving kids the childhood they deserve by bringing play to those who need it most, have successfully provided 100,000 kids across the nation with access to play. This partnership aims to triple their impact by reaching a total of 300,000 children by the end of 2018. To celebrate the official coast-to-coast launch of the partnership, more than 400 volunteers will simultaneously build two new playgrounds today, April 7, in El Cajon, Calif. and Fort Worth, TX.
CarMax and KaBOOM! will provide grants to fund building or improving 79 play spaces by the end of 2018, bringing play to those most in need. In addition, CarMax is the first KaBOOM! corporate sponsor bringing play spaces to our military and veteran families over the next three years while also providing them with community support and career opportunities.
“CarMax is committed to giving back to and supporting the communities we are a part of – without them, CarMax could not be successful,” said Craig Cronheim, president of The CarMax Foundation.
“Our associates across the country will impact countless families by helping get kids moving and playing.”
This partnership will have three distinct areas of impact. First, 33 nationwide community-built playgrounds will be designed by children and built by volunteers from local partners and thousands of CarMax associates.
Second, a donation of 34 Imagination Playgrounds and 12 Rigamajigs will be made to select partner organizations. Lastly, four of these playgrounds and 12 Rigamajigs will be built in military communities and 18 of the Imagination Playgrounds will be donated to military serving non-profits over the next three years.
The CarMax Foundation focuses nationally on children’s healthy living. This focus is directed by CarMax associates who have expressed a desire to help youth in their communities get moving to live happier, healthier lives.
“The CarMax Foundation is a powerful champion for kids across America, creating wonderful opportunities for kids in need of play. The commitment and enthusiasm of CarMax associates is unsurpassed, and great things happen when they roll up their sleeves as volunteers to build playgrounds in the communities where they live, work, and play,” said James Siegal, CEO of KaBOOM!. “We are thrilled to continue our amazing partnership with CarMax for another three years and grateful that we and CarMax share a passion for ensuring all kids get the childhood they deserve filled with play.”
Join the national discussion about the importance of play in fostering healthy and productive lives on social media using #playmatters, #carmaxbuild , #ElCajon, #FtWorth and follow the work of KaBOOM! (@KaBOOM!) and CarMax (@CarMaxCares).
About The CarMax Foundation
The CarMax Foundation is designed to enrich the communities where our associates live and work and has donated more than $30 million since 2003. Funding programs are made available through a portion of CarMax, Inc.’s pre-tax profits. CarMax, a member of the FORTUNE 500 and the S&P 500, and on the FORTUNE 100 Best Companies to Work For® list for 12 consecutive years, is the nation’s largest retailer of used vehicles. Headquartered in Richmond, Va., CarMax currently operates 158 stores in 78 markets. The consumer offer features low, no haggle prices, a broad selection of CarMax Quality Certified used cars, and superior customer service. During the twelve months ended February 28, 2015, the company retailed 582,282 used vehicles and sold 376,186 wholesale vehicles at our in-store auctions. For more information, access the CarMax website at http://www.carmax.com/. For more information about The CarMax Foundation, visit foundation.carmax.com.
About KaBOOM!
KaBOOM! is the national non-profit dedicated to giving all kids – particularly those growing up in poverty in America – the childhood they deserve filled with balanced and active play, so they can thrive. Since 1996, KaBOOM! has collaborated with partners to build, open or improve nearly 16,300 playgrounds, engaged more than one million volunteers and served 8.1 million kids. KaBOOM! creates great places to play, inspires communities to promote and support play, and works to drive the national discussion about the importance of play in fostering healthy and productive lives. To learn why #playmatters and why cities are embracing #playability: visit kaboom.org or join the conversation at twitter.com/kaboom or facebook.com/kaboom.