Volunteers Build Playground for Community YMCA

RED BANK – A dream is now a reality for children in Red Bank as their drawings were turned into a new playground on Saturday, Nov. 2.
In less than eight hours, a play space was built at The Community YMCA’s Family Health and Wellness Center with the help of more than 200 volunteers from The Com­munity YMCA, Good Neigh­bor Pharmacy and nonprofit KaBOOM!. The new playground – which was made possible by funds donated by Good Neighbor Pharmacy and matched by its parent company, Amerisource­Bergen – will serve hundreds of children in the community for years to come.

 
“The Community YMCA is truly grateful to KaBOOM! and Good Neighbor Pharm­acy for their generosity and commitment  to ensuring that all children have a safe place to play,” said The Community YMCA President & CEO Rhonda Anderson. “We thank them and the many hardworking volunteers and local businesses who supported this project. Together, we are making a lasting impact for children in our community.”
Planning for the playground began at a design-day event held on Sept. 3, during which children and community leaders met with organizers from KaBOOM! and Good Neigh­bor Pharmacy to design their dream playground. The children’s drawings were then used to create the final playground design.
“Good Neighbor Pharm­acy is thrilled to have the opportunity to give back to local communities like Red Bank through our partnership with KaBOOM!,” says AJ Caffentzis, senior vice president, sales and marketing, at AmerisourceBergen Drug Corporation. “We are committed to the health and well-being of our customers, employees and communities. Our Good Neighbor Pharm­acy members, in particular, remain cornerstones of their respective communities, working to improve patient access and patient health in local neighborhoods across the country. We view our partnership with KaBOOM! as an extension of our commitment to local communities.”
Thanks to the work of Good Neighbor Pharmacy, The Community YMCA and KaBOOM!, children and their families now have a 2,400 square-foot playground to call home that includes features such as a Rocky Ridge Climber, Rumble Seat Slide and swings.
The playground is the first of five that will be built by KaBOOM! and Good Neigh­bor Pharmacy. This year, KaBOOM! will build more than 150 playgrounds across the country in an effort to fulfill its vision of providing a great place to play within walking distance of every child in America.