Foresters Financial, KaBOOM! and volunteers bring families together with new playground at Town Center Community Park West

SANTEE, CA, May, 21 2016 /PRNewswire/ - The Santee community was revitalized today thanks to a new playground built at the Town Center Community Park West. In less than eight hours, more than 200 volunteers from Foresters Financial^TM, the City of Santee, and non-profit KaBOOM! created the new play space, which will serve more than 20,000 children and their families in the local community for years to come.

"We believe in enriching lives and building strong communities – that's our purpose," said Tony Garcia, President and CEO, Foresters Financial. "Playgrounds are important to communities, providing a public space where children can play safely, families can spend quality time and the community can come together. An investment in a playground is an investment in community, and we are happy to provide the Santee community with a place that families can enjoy for years to come."

The design for the new playground is based on drawings created by neighborhood children at a special Design Day event held in March when community members met with organizers from KaBOOM! and Foresters Financial to design their dream playground. The drawings inspired the final playground design.

Foresters Financial, an international financial services provider, helps families reach their financial goals, protect themselves and make a lasting difference in their communities. This year, Foresters and KaBOOM! are proudly celebrating the 10 year anniversary of  their partnership. Since 2006, Foresters has invested more than $11.5 million with KaBOOM! to build more than 130 playgrounds – including 5 in San Diego – across the US and Canada by the end of 2016. Over their 15-year lifespan, these playgrounds will provide more than 4.5 million children and their families with an opportunity to spend quality time together and enhance family well-being.

"We're pleased to collaborate with Foresters Financial and KaBOOM! to create this new playground at Town Center Community Park West," said Santee Community Services Director Bill Maertz. "This play area occupies an ideal location that attracts a high number of visitors. It will serve the community well by helping children stay active and healthy."

Green spaces and safe play structures where children and families can enjoy and spend time together are sparse in many high density communities. Playing outdoors is an important part of every child's healthy development and the creation of this new playground will allow thousands of children to play safely and be active in their community.

Foresters Financial is a KaBOOM! Founding Partner and National Partner. Since 1996, KaBOOM! has been dedicated to the bold goal of ensuring that all children get the balance of active play they need to become healthy and successful adults because #playmatters.

City of Santee
Incorporated in 1980, the City of Santee occupies 16.5 square miles and has a population of approximately 56,000 located 18 miles from the sparkling beaches of the Pacific Ocean. The city's Community Services Department operates eight public parks totaling more than 250 acres and nearly 4 miles of multi-use trails along the San Diego River. The KaBoom! playground is located at Town Center Community Park, Santee's busiest community park, which generates an annual attendance of 1 million visitors.

Foresters
Foresters Financial™ is an international financial services provider with more than three million clients and members in Canada, the United States and the United Kingdom. We provide life insurance, savings, retirement and investment solutions that help families achieve their financial goals and make a lasting difference in their lives and communities. For over 140 years, Foresters Financial has built a foundation of financial strength and a commitment of giving back to our clients and members and the communities where they live. For more information, visit foresters.com.

Foresters Financial and Foresters are trade names and trademarks of The Independent Order of Foresters (a fraternal benefit society, 789 Don Mills Road, Toronto, Canada M3C 1T9) and its subsidiaries. 413565F US (05/16)

KaBOOM!
KaBOOM! is the national non-profit dedicated to giving all kids – particularly those growing up in poverty in America – the childhood they deserve filled with balanced and active play, so they can thrive. Since 1996, KaBOOM! has collaborated with partners to build, open, or improve nearly 16,300 playgrounds, engaged more than one million volunteers, and served 8.1 million kids. KaBOOM! creates great places to play, inspires communities to promote and support play, and works to drive the national discussion about the importance of play in fostering healthy and productive lives. To learn why #playmatters and why cities are embracing #playability: visit kaboom.org or join the conversation at twitter.com/kaboom or facebook.com/kaboom.

SOURCE Foresters

Related Links

www.foresters.com