Kohl's $5 million gift to Children's Memorial helps build much needed playground in West Garfield Park
July 2005 — Thanks to a $5 million gift to Children's Memorial Hospital to
launch the Kohl's Cares for Kids Safety Network, the hospital will coordinate
the construction of a new playground in Chicago's West Garfield Park
neighborhood. Members of the community have waited more than 15 years for a new
playground in the area and will finally get one on Friday, July 22.
The playground will be constructed at Tilton Park at 305 N. Kostner in
Chicago. More than 175 Chicago area Kohl's associates will be working side by
side with approximately 50 members of the community to construct the new
facility for children of all ages. The new playground will include slides,
climbing equipment, an infinity climber and swings, including a
handicapped-accessible swing. Kohl's employees will also be volunteering to
clean up debris and spread new wood chips at six other playgrounds in the
area.
“We've waited many years for a new playground in the neighborhood,” says
Dorothy Yates who takes care of five grandchildren ranging in age from 4 to 11.
“Thanks to the new playground, our children will have a safe place to play and
they won't be out on the streets.”
According to the National Program for Playground Safety, each year in the
United States approximately 200,000 children receive care in hospital emergency
rooms for injuries that were sustained while playing on unsafe playgrounds.
According to a recent study conducted by Children's Memorial Research Center and
funded by Kohl's, West Garfield Park has a high rate of pedestrian and motor
vehicle injuries among children compared to the overall rate for the city of
Chicago. Studies have shown that the presence of safe playgrounds greatly
reduces the pedestrian injury rate among children.
“Kohl's introduced the Kohl's Cares for Kids program to promote children's
health and educational opportunities, and is committed to playing an active role
in the communities we serve,” said Julie Gardner, senior vice president of
marketing for Kohl's Department Stores. “We're proud of the partnerships we've
created with children's hospitals across the country, and are excited to join
Children's Memorial in this endeavor.”
The Kohl's Cares for Kids Safety Network is aimed at preventing unintentional
injury, which is the leading cause of death for children between the ages of 0
and 14 according to the Centers for Disease Control. The Kohl's gift will
provide funding for several programs designed to confront the problems that
threaten the safety of children in their homes, neighborhoods and
communities.
The Kohl's gift is supporting Children's Memorial's leadership of a local
coalition with the Chicago Park District and Friends of the Parks to create
greater awareness of playground safety, develop standards for playground
maintenance and supervision and create a network of safe places for kids to
play. Kohl's gift to Children's Memorial is made possible through the Kohl's
Cares for Kidsâ program, which raises funds for children's hospitals through the
sale of seasonal gift items. Net profits from the sales go to children's
hospitals in the market areas served by Kohl's.
Based in Menomonee Falls, Wis., Kohl's is a family-focused, value oriented
specialty department store offering moderately priced national, exclusive and
private brand apparel, shoes, accessories and home products. Kohl's operates 670
stores in 40 states.
Children's Memorial Hospital, Chicago, is recognized as one of the top
pediatric hospitals in the country and number one in Illinois by rankings
published in U.S. News & World Report. Its physicians are on the
faculty at the Feinberg School of Medicine at Northwestern University. As a
not-for-profit organization, Children's Memorial relies on philanthropy to help
provide care to 94,000 patients and their families every year.
Contact:
Arla Silverstein, Children's Memorial Foundation
773.880.4728