Thank yoU for MAKING Playfest 2024 aMAZING!
Here's an A-to-Z Snapshot of the Day
- Attendance was up this year! 1,200 children and their families to our new event location at the Arizona State Fairgrounds
- Bright yellow backpacks were provided courtesy of SRP to help kids hold the crafts and free books they received
- Creating an original work of art with paints, brush and canvas took place with our Head Start team
- Delta Dental and Fry’s provided healthy snacks and Delta Dental went the extra mile and followed up with kid-friendly dental hygiene activities
- Exploring unique, interactive activities such as imagining the future, or exploring the difference between a need versus a want took place at the travelling PNC Grow Up Great Mobile Learning Adventure
- First Aid was supported by Creighton University students and only 1 Band-Aid was distributed during the entire event
- Growing healthy fruits and veggies with our Healthy Families team offered a compostable cup to fill with soil and seeds to take home, watch grow and eventually eat
- Helpline resources were provided to answer parenting or caregiver questions and concerns about their child’s growth and development
- It was so much fun to welcome Daniel Tiger and Katerina Kittycat thanks to AZPBS, Fred Rogers Productions and PNC’s Grow up Great partnership
- Jumping, tossing and stacking took place with the Yard Games led by team PNC Bank
- Kaplan Early Learning made it possible for children to receive a free toy or stuffed animal in exchange for visiting 5 or more activity stations on their passport
- Lots of vehicles filled the parking lot for free thanks to the DriveTime Parking Pass and hundreds of memories were captured by attendees at the Shutterfly Photo Station
- Music from Higher Octave Healing, warm ups with MixxedFit, dancing from Pretty Precise Step, native hoop dancing and BMX Stuntmasters were on the Mountain America Credit Union Entertainment Stage
- Nobody left without a free book thanks to Blue Cross Blue Shield of AZ. Free books and literacy crafts helped to inspire the love of reading at an early age.
- Once our Ambassador families were introduced, attendees heard about the variety of programs and services available to assist children thrive by the age of 5, and the signage supported by AlphaGraphics reinforced our commitment to Arizona’s youngest residents
- Playdough-making supported by Forward Tilt allowed children to practice scooping, measuring and stirring in a fun color for their creation made with all natural ingredients
- Quite a few bubbles were made and popped at the Mortenson Bubble Storm
- Resource Partners met with parents and caregivers about everything from employment to healthcare thanks to the Lockton
- Sensory play and music therapy was a hit with the crawlers and those needing a quieter pace of play thanks to Century 21 Foothills
- The Legacy Traditional Express Train kept families happy as they sang and listened to stories from the conductor
- Unlimited support was provided to guests by our fabulous volunteers proudly wearing a uniquely designed shirt with the support of Sonora Quest Laboratories
- Vibe Den for older youth offered lounge seating thanks to American Furniture Warehouse that made space to create a Give One, Take One Stickman craft, boxes to decorate for personal belongings and playing a money management game
- When 1pm rolled around it was hard to believe the day was coming to an end
- Xylophones didn’t make an appearance, but we found many other pop-up activities to surprise the attendees with such as sidewalk chalk art and creating STEM airplanes made possible by Lakeshore Learning Materials
- You will have to make sure to join us next year to experience this amazing day of outdoor play
- Zillions of thanks to additional partners such as Starbucks for volunteer coffee, Spinato’s for volunteer pizza, and Primo Water to keep guests hydrated
Helping Arizona Children & Families
With your support we can do even more