Let’s Play Celebrates Anniversary of Encouraging Fit and Active Lifestyles

“Can Billy and Susie come outside to play?”

A generation ago, this simple question was the password to playing outside all day. In today’s digital age of computers and video games, the idea of playing outside until sundown is unheard of for most kids. Now, with Let’s Play, a community partnership led by DPS, we’re resurrecting the days of monkey bars, freeze tag and swings and helping to get kids and families active nationwide.

Since its launch last April, Let’s Play – through DPS’s partnership with KaBOOM! – has awarded nearly $4 million to build or fix up 528 playgrounds, giving more than 1.3 million children a great place to play. The impact of Let’s Play was brought to life last April in New Orleans, La. More than 300 DPS employees and community volunteers joined forces to help the Vietnamese Initiatives Economic Training (VIET) organization to transform a desolate lot in New Orleans East – an area still recovering from Hurricane Katrina – into an amazing play space. This year, we’re continuing those efforts by inviting everyone to get involved in the cause by taking the Let’s Play Pledge to help save play.

“Within its first year, Let’s Play impacted the lives of more than a million children by providing them access to a great place to play – and this is just the start,” said Tina Barry, EVP – corporate affairs. “We’re launching the Let’s Play Pledge to involve more people than ever in our mission to get families active. We encourage community members to take the pledge and apply for the hundreds of grants we have available.”

Recent studies have shown that almost half of all children spend less than an hour playing outside each day. The Let’s Play pledge, found at Facebook.com/LetsPlay, challenges families to commit to keeping play alive, raise awareness and motivate others. In addition, users can learn more about what Let’s Play is all about, join the Let’s Play community and apply for a grant to put toward building or improving a playground in their area through www.letsplay.com.

DPS also is engaging new organizations and programs to expand their play initiatives and provide more tools and greater inspiration for communities to live fit and active lifestyles. Our newest partner, Good Sports, provides athletic equipment, footwear and apparel to disadvantaged youth nationwide. Recently, through Let’s Play, DPS and Good Sports donated $10,000 worth of sports equipment to the Dallas East Soccer Association during the 2012 Dallas Cup. Let’s Play also is playing a part in Motivate to Move, a Texas-based initiative that organizes monthly events to encourage kids to get active and to maintain healthy eating habits.

To learn more about the Let's Play initiative, click here or watch the below video.