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March 05, 2013

MEDIA ALERT: Dream Playground to Become Safe and Accessible Playground Reality for St. Sabina

For more information, contact:
Kayee Ip, AAOS • O: 847-384-4035 • C: 312-543-3211 • E: ip@aaos.org
Minister Kimberly M. Lymore, Saint Sabina • O: 773-483-4300 • E: ministerlymore@ameritech.net
Mike Vietti, KaBOOM! • O: 785-320-2137 • E: mvietti@kaboom.org
 
PHOTO OPPS:
  • Before shots of the playground site;
  • Hundreds of volunteers building a safe and accessible playground;
  • Special afternoon appearance by Benny the Bull, the Chicago Bulls’ mascot.
WHERE: The Faith Community of Saint Sabina located at 1210 W. Saint Sabina (78th) St., Chicago, Ill.
 
WHEN: Tues., March 19, 2013
8:30 am – 2:30 pm
2:30 pm – Ribbon-cutting ceremony
 
WHAT: Each year since 2000, the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS) has sponsored a volunteer build to kick-off its Annual Meeting, leaving behind a legacy of safe and accessible playgrounds to the Annual Meeting’s host city so that children with and without disabilities can play safely together. In 2013, AAOS will build a Safe and Accessible Playground at Saint Sabina. This will be the Academy’s 14th Safe and Accessible Playground Build and the second in the Chicago area.
 
WHY: Orthopaedic surgeons are the physicians who treat many people with physical disabilities. They also see first-hand the fractures, dislocations and other results of playground injuries and falls. The Safe and Accessible Playground Build is an opportunity for orthopaedic surgeons to give back to its Annual Meeting’s host city. This playground will offer children exercise opportunities for balance, flexibility, and strength to build strong bones as well as a safe and accessible place to play.
 
WHO: Hundreds of orthopaedic surgeon volunteers from the AAOS, and Auburn-Gresham neighborhood community members and children, helping to build a safe and accessible playground.
  • AAOS spokesperson Leon S. Benson, MD, orthopaedic hand surgeon at the Illinois Bone and Joint Institute;
  • AAOS spokesperson Monica Kogan, MD, pediatric orthopaedic surgeon at Midwest Orthopaedics at Rush;
  • Rev. Dr. Michael L. Pfleger, senior pastor from Saint Sabina; and
  • KaBOOM! also will be on hand.
     
DETAILS: Last fall, children from the Auburn-Gresham neighborhood of Chicago designed the playground of their dreams—a 2,764 square-foot area featuring a safety sign in Braille, playground components for children of all abilities ages 5 through 12, wheelchair ramps and more. On build day, hundreds of volunteers will gather to help make the community’s dream playground come true. Activities will be available for children and adults of all ages and abilities.
 
ABOUT:

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