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About 300 volunteers from 13 local companies gathered at Marie G. Davis School Oct. 28 for the 18th Charlotte Playground Build. Workers spent the day installing new playground equipment, painting murals and performing beautification tasks around the campus.
Volunteer partners included Financial Independence Group, Charlotte Regional Visitors Authority, Lowe’s Home Improvement, Novant Health, Frito-Lay, Atrium Health, Charlotte Center City Partners and Messer Construction. United Way of Central Carolinas has managed the event since 2017.
“I’m hoping that the students here are able to have a fresh reminder to get outdoors and to be excited and energized; it’s part of staying healthy,” said Gibson Bailey of Lowe’s. “I hope this inspires them to be outside and keep their motivation up at school.”
Since the early 2000s, corporate volunteers in Charlotte have gathered every year to help fund and install a new playground at the campus of a Title 1 school in Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools. The beneficiary school is selected in consultation with CMS, based on the age of the school’s current playground equipment. The event is an opportunity for Charlotte’s corporate community to support public schools through volunteer engagement.
“I want to thank United Way and their partners who volunteered for coming out to help the beautification project for our school,” said Principal Phillip Johnson. “Our students love it, our community loves it, and we hope that everybody can enjoy the new playground we’re getting for years to come.”
