June 4, 2008
The Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Oxnard and Port Hueneme will hold a version of the "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition" TV show by building a new playground in one day — Saturday — at Southwest Park in Oxnard.
The Amgen Foundation has provided a $62,500 grant for the project, with $7,500 provided by the Boys & Girls Clubs.
"It's really a dream come true," said Tim Blaylock, spokesman for the clubs. "We don't have a playground with play structures. Twenty kids actually helped design the project with KaBOOM.
"They've been doing this model for a long time. It's based on trying to get a community to rally around a project and people taking pride in it."
KaBOOM, a national nonprofit organization based in Washington, D.C., envisions a place to play within walking distance of every child in America. It will be the first of two KaBOOM play stations in Ventura County sponsored by the Amgen Foundation, said Jessica Silver-Hill of the philanthropic arm of Thousand Oaks-based Amgen Inc.
"We are excited to partner with the Boys & Girls Clubs," she said. "This will give more than 3,000 local children a place to play. It's a wonderful opportunity for us to benefit the community in Amgen's backyard."
In addition to financial support, Amgen volunteers will help build the play structure. "It's really cool to see the playground go up in one day," said Silver-Hill.
Swings, climbing walls and typical play structures will be installed at the park, which is across the street from the Boys & Girls Club at 1900 W. Fifth St.
Volunteers are needed to help with the construction from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Saturday.
People interested in participating can call Tiffany Lopez, director of volunteer services for the clubs, at 815-4959, ext. 207.
"Every child deserves a safe place to play," said Nancy Mayerson, board president of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Oxnard and Port Hueneme.
"We are grateful to KaBOOM and the Amgen Foundation for recognizing the importance of this new playground for thousands of Oxnard children," she said.
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