LuskinOIC Receives Grant from the Nike Community Store to Support Universally Accessible Playground Play Dates

Nike Community Impact Fund Grant Will Provide Underrepresented Children with Physical and Developmental Disabilities a Safe Play Area Where They Can “Grow Well. Play Well.®”

Luskin Orthopaedic Institute for Children (OIC) announced today that it has received a Nike Community Impact Fund (NCIF) grant through the Nike Community Store in East Los Angeles to support play dates hosted at the Everychild Foundation Universally Accessible Playground on OIC’s downtown Los Angeles campus. This bright and safe play area provides children of all abilities integrated play opportunities through specially designed playground equipment with sensory features.

“We are extremely grateful to NIKE, Inc., the Nike Community Impact Fund, their partner CAF America, and particularly to the staff of the Nike community store – East Los Angeles for their wonderful support of our program and the children we serve,” said OIC Vice President Michael Sullivan. “We’re thrilled to be recognized by this respected business that shares our goals to empower kids to grow well and play well.”

The grant will allow OIC to focus on improving access to organized activities on this specially designed community playground. In conjunction with high school students from Palos Verdes who are members of OIC’s Las Niñas de Las Madrecitas auxiliary volunteer support group, OIC will increase the number of underrepresented children with physical and developmental disabilities participating in the monthly Playdates program, encouraging participation in and enjoyment of physical activity through structured peer-mentored play.

“At Nike, we believe kids are made to play and when they do, they’ll do better in life – from the playground to the classroom,” said Caitlin Morris, General Manager of Nike Community Impact. “We are honored to support grassroots organizations like OIC, that are making a real difference in Los Angeles by leveraging the power of sport to invest in the potential of today’s youth.”

Originally launched in 2010 in Oregon, the NCIF is an innovative approach to grant-making that engages committees composed of Nike employees and store athletes to help award grants to nonprofit organizations in the communities where they live and work. This is the East Los Angeles community store’s second round of grants supporting local organizations through NCIF. Since its overall launch the fund has awarded more than $4.5 million in grants to community organizations and schools throughout the United States.

Opened on the OIC campus in 2008, the Everychild Foundation Universally Accessible Playground is a popular site for young patients, along with children who reside in the urban core neighborhood. With numerous community partners, including the Los Angeles Amor y Fortaleza Down Syndrome Support Group and the South Central Los Angeles Regional Center, the playground serves a multitude of constituencies; and OIC hosts structured activities – such as the monthly play dates – for all. Most importantly, the facility gives children who otherwise would not be able to access a typical playground the chance to be like other kids and allows able-bodied children to learn to accept others coming from diverse circumstances.

About Nike Community Impact

Nike believes in the power of sport to unleash human potential and build community. We fuel this belief through Made to Play, our commitment to getting kids moving through play and sport so that they can lead healthier, happier and more successful lives. Together with community partners and our employees around the world, we’re designing innovative solutions to get more than 14 million kids playing, running and jumping their way to a brighter future. Find out more about Nike’s commitment to getting kids moving and providing opportunities for equal playing fields for all at communityimpact.nike.com.