The NSCA, Greater Philadelphia Cares, and Garfield Group are proud to announce that the National Head Start Association has offered to match our combined efforts to transform the NSCA’s indoor playground. The program’s offer to match funds encourages non-profit organizations to maximize their own local fundraising, and provides an extra level of support for those who go the extra mile. With it, the NSCA has the opportunity do even more wonderful things.

Head Start is a pre-school program for low-income children that provides them with “developmentally appropriate early childhood education” they might otherwise be unable to obtain. Learn more about the National Head Start Association.

The New Year has turned and Garfield Group is still abuzz with talk about our day of volunteering with the Norris Square Civic Association.  The day was not only a great success, but impactful as well. One particular moment never to be forgotten was when Amanda Larson, Director Marketing & Development, Greater Philadelphia Cares, gave a speech thanking the Garfield Group just before the children came into the playground.  Tears were in her eyes as she told the group, “You have done an amazing thing and I thank you from the bottom of my heart.”

The children, while initially shocked by how different their play space looked, were thrilled with the colorful walls and fun new toys.  Many of them shrieked and squealed as they tried out the ball pit and basketball net.  The teachers were also smiling as the children jumped up and down with excitement.

Another great reaction was that of Miriam Pineiro, the center’s director, who cried when entering the new playground.  She expressed her thanks for the Garfield Group on behalf of everyone including the children, families and staff.

Garfield Group Reflections:

Kevin Jurrens, Account Supervisor, Garfield Group Public Relations, said, “This was a great experience.  It was a lot of hard work, but extremely rewarding to see the children come in at the end of the day and the joy our efforts brought them.”

Nicole Boyd, Associate Creative Director, Garfield Group Branding talked about the process from planning to execution, “We were concerned that with such a great undertaking we might not be able to finish everything in one day, but everyone worked extremely hard and the playground looked great afterwards. I was really proud of how well everyone embraced the project.”

The NSCA, Greater Philadelphia Cares and Garfield Group had a great time working together to makeover the indoor playground. And now we’re excited to share the final reveal with you! Check out the pictures to see the full transformation.

For even more pictures of the day, click here.

Last week, a team of Garfielders travelled down to Kensington, PA to check out the Norris Square Civic Association’s indoor playground. Our goal was to get a better feel for the space, take some measurements, and find some inspiration for our “makeover” creative theme.

While more than adequate size, the indoor playground was rather cold and uninviting. Child-sized tables and chairs sat in the corner under dim lights, toys were scattered across the hard cement floor, and the chilly outside air was gusting in through the gap below the front door. Check out the pictures for yourself here.

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Let’s face it — 2009 was a very tough year for all of us. And we all know people who are hurting — financially and spiritually. So instead of the usual holiday gifts and parties, we wanted to challenge ourselves to do something more meaningful — and inspirational. Our mission: improve the lives of people in our community and inspire others to do the same. Because we all have the power to change the world.

As we began to research opportunities to volunteer as a company, we were introduced to Greater Philadelphia Cares and Boston Cares. Both were created to act as a matchmaker between companies and non-profits. They handle introductions, and help coordinate many of the details. In short, they made it easy to find the Norris Square Civic Association — and help us find a project we thought would be meaningful, fun, and take advantage of our unique talents.

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Greater Philadelphia Cares (GPC)is truly unique. Their purpose is “to give everyone the opportunity to play a meaningful role in creating a better community.” GPC motivates people to volunteer their time, talents, and resources by consulting with companies to create custom service opportunities. With hundreds of flexible, tangible volunteer opportunities available each year, GPC makes it easy for companies to give their time to enhance the impact of non-profit organizations throughout the Philadelphia region.

Founded in 1994, GPC has been recognized for excellence by both the City of Philadelphia and the Philadelphia Chamber of Commerce. In 2009, GPC received a commendation from Governor Edward G. Rendell for their years of effective service, as well as the great work they do for the improvement of our communities. GPC is committed to empowering individuals to realize their ability to contribute in powerful, meaningful ways. With GPC’s help, companies and their employees are donating thousands of hours of community service to people who need it most.

To learn more about GPC, click here.

Boston Cares is the largest volunteer organization in New England. Their mission is to “organize and lead team-oriented volunteer opportunities and services in and around Boston that have a positive impact on individuals and communities.” From planting community gardens, to mentoring children to renovating community centers, Boston Cares manages more than 150 direct service volunteer projects a year. They offer a variety of specialized programs for corporate employees, college campus initiatives and even young people involved in youth groups or with their families.In 2007, more than 16,000 Boston Cares volunteers contributed 49,000 hours to 165 non-profits in the Greater Boston area.

Boston Cares is a member of the HandsOn Network and Points of Light Institute, an international organization which inspires, equips, and mobilizes people to take action that changes the world. At the center of the network are 250 affiliates serving 83% of the American population, and 12 international communities.

To learn more about Boston cares, click here.

The Norris Square Civic Association (NSCA) was founded in the early 1980s by a group of concerned Kensington residents. Located in Philadelphia, Kensington was a neighborhood in decline, but these residents decided to work together to restore the area to its original beauty and spirit. Today, Kensington is considered an “emerging neighborhood,” full of longtime residents with strong ties to the community, and an influx of young people looking for well-priced homes.

The NSCA’s mission is “to empower Norris Square residents to improve their lives by becoming self-reliant, and to build their community through the development and improvement of the physical, economic, social, cultural, and educational aspects of the neighborhood.” For almost 30 years, the NSCA has worked to improve the community by instilling a “sense of connectedness, kinship, and unity.”

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