CPSC Chairman Awards Safety Commendation to KaBOOM!
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NEWS from CPSC

U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission

Office of Information and Public Affairs Washington, DC 20207
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Februay 8, 2001
Release # 01-082 		CPSC Consumer Hotline: (800) 638-2772
CPSC Media Contact: Mark Ross, (301) 504-7076

CPSC Chairman Awards Safety Commendation to KaBOOM!

WASHINGTON, D.C. - The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) announced today that Chairman Ann Brown has awarded the Chairman's Commendation to KaBOOM!, of Washington, D.C., a national nonprofit organization committed to building safe community playgrounds.

Founded in 1995, KaBOOM! serves as a resource to communities and corporations interested in sparking positive change for kids through the building of playgrounds. KaBOOM! works with individuals, organizations and businesses to plan projects, raise funds and rally volunteers. The result is the construction of safe and accessible playgrounds in just one day. Through these team efforts, KaBOOM! has inspired the building of hundreds of playgrounds in neighborhoods nationwide.

KaBOOM! has incorporated CPSC's Playground Guidelines into its work and made safety an essential part of its playground building initiatives. It was CPSC's partner in issuing the Public Playground Safety Checklist.

"The efforts of KaBOOM! have helped provide safer playgrounds in communities around the nation. For the past 5 years their efforts have supported us in our goal of keeping children out of hospital emergency rooms and out on the playground where they belong," said Brown. "They have been an invaluable partner with this agency, and greatly deserve this commendation."

Chief Executive Officer of of KaBOOM! Darell Hammond accepted the Commendation today at an award ceremony at CPSC headquarters in Bethesda, Md. Chairman Brown presented the commendation that read, "Presented to KaBOOM! For its outstanding record of promoting playground safety and building safe playgrounds for the children of America."

"This award is certainly an exciting way for KaBOOM! to celebrate our 5 years of partnering with communities and corporations to build safe playgrounds for kids," said Hammond. "We are grateful for the support we receive from CPSC and Chairman Brown which helps us toward our goal of changing the world, one playground at a time."

For more information about KaBOOM!, visit their web site at www.Kaboom.org.

Other recipients of the Chairman's Commendation have included Lowe's Companies Inc. and Lowe's Home Safety Council; Toys "R" Us; Procter & Gamble; Sunbeam Plastics; Playskool, a division of Hasbro Inc.; Rollerblade Inc.; the International Inline Skating Association; the Whirlpool Corp.; the American Furniture Manufacturers Association; Face Guards Inc.; the Rogers Sports Corp.; the Safe Strap Company Inc.; the city of Pittsburgh; the state of Colorado; the National SAFE KIDS Campaign; and the American Water Heater Company.

Chairman Brown initiated the commendation program to recognize substantial contributions to product safety by individuals, companies, or groups for one-time, ongoing, or multiple actions. Nominees for the award, which is given periodically, may be brought to the Chairman's attention. Chairman Brown will consider the following factors in choosing award recipients:

Actions that contribute to reducing hazards to children and other vulnerable populations;

Voluntary actions that are not mandated by government regulations, that anticipate government regulation, or that go beyond what the government requires;

Developments that affect the safety of large numbers of individuals;

Innovations or improvements to existing products; and

Safety devices, packaging, warnings, or products which enhance consumer safety.