Bobcat dealers are helping to build playgrounds nationwide by allowing the non-profit organization KaBOOM! to use equipment for free.
“Our mission is simple: to create healthy play opportunities for young people,” said Jennie Connor, KaBOOM! project manager. “Bobcat is helping us do that by donating valuable equipment that allows our community partners to focus their resources on what’s really important — the playground.”
KaBOOM! works with communities and corporations to construct playgrounds by raising money for the projects and then using volunteers to build them. The playgrounds usually cost anywhere from $30,000 to more than $100,000. According to Connor, when Bobcat dealers donate the use of equipment, it saves the projects between $350 to $500 daily.
Bobcat’s participation in the KaBOOM! projects relies heavily on the generosity of equipment dealers.
“In the end, we rely on our dealer network to donate and deliver the equipment, and we couldn’t be more proud of our dealers for being so enthusiastic and generous with their time and resources,” said Gary Hornbacher, North American marketing manager for Bobcat.
Participating dealers typically donate a new skid-steer loader, an auger attachment with two bits and a bucket for two days during site preparation work. Then, when the playground equipment is being installed, the dealer sometimes delivers a Toolcat 5600 utility work machine to the project site for the day.
Bobcat dealers donated equipment for playground projects in 13 cities in 2003.
“It is impossible to express how valuable Bobcat donations are and how much project managers like me appreciate the company and its dealers for their support,” Connor said.
To find out how to get KaBOOM! to help build a playground in your community, click on the link to the right.
