University of North Carolina Athletics
Jamison To Facilitate Playground Construction In Charlotte
June 17, 2009 | Men's Basketball
June 17, 2009
CHARLOTTE - Washington Wizards NBA All-Star, former Carolina All-America and Charlotte native Antawn Jamison will join hundreds of volunteers from the YMCA of Greater Charlotte and the local community in building a playground in just one day at the Simmons Family YMCA on Saturday, July 11.
The playground's design was recently selected and is based on drawings provided by children who attended a Design Day event on May 13. Features of the new 3,000-plus square foot playground, which is primarily being funded by Jamison, include multiple slides, a tire swing, climbing apparatuses and many more activities for children.
On Saturday, July 11, hundreds of volunteers with gather to build the playground in less than eight hours. The playground build will begin at 8:30 a.m. and be completed before a ribbon-cutting ceremony at 2:30 p.m. In between, volunteers build playground components, mix concrete and move more than 45,360 square feet of safety surfacing by hand - enough to cover nearly 10 NBA-sized basketball courts.
The playspace is the second built primarily by KaBOOM! and Jamison, and one of more than 150 KaBOOM! will lead across the country in 2009 in an effort to provide a great place to play within walking distance of every child in America. Jamison is a KaBOOM! All-Star Playmaker - an extension of the Playmaker Network consisting of national leaders and celebrities who take action for play on behalf of KaBOOM!, while promoting the importance of play.
Jamison, whose "A Better Tomorrow" campaign has helped countless individuals across the country via scholarships, clothing and food donations and financial contributions, participated alongside hundreds of volunteers to build a KaBOOM! playground in just one day in New Orleans in conjunction with the 2008 NBA All-Star Game.
Inspired by the massive community involvement and the tangible result of a playground that will serve thousands of children, Jamison contacted KaBOOM! to facilitate building playgrounds near his childhood homes of Shreveport and Charlotte. On Sept. 6, 2008, Jamison helped hundreds of volunteers build a new playground in just one day near Shreveport in Bossier City, La.
The playground build taking place on July 11 will be in conjunction with Jamison's fourth annual All-Star Basketball Camp being held July 6-8 at his alma mater, Providence High School. For more information on the camp, contact Livis Freeman at 919-765-5546 or livisfreeman@4ourfans.com.
Volunteers are still needed for the playground build. No experience is required and food/drink will be provided. Individuals interested in volunteering can contact Carola Cárdenas at 704-716-6609 or carola.cardenas@ymcacharlotte.org.
