About Let's Play

1. What is Let’s Play?

   Let’s Play is a community partnership led by Dr Pepper Snapple Group (DPS) to get kids and families active nationwide. The first Let’s Play initiative is a $15 million, three-year commitment to KaBOOM!, a national non-profit that’s saving play by ensuring there is a great place to play within walking distance of every child.

2. What is the goal of Let’s Play?

   The goal of Let’s Play is to provide the tools, places and inspiration to help communities increase physical activity.

3. How will DPS’ $15 million contribution be used?

   DPS is working with KaBOOM! to build or fix up 2,000 playgrounds by the end of 2013, benefiting an estimated five million children across North America. To reach our goal, Let’s Play grants will be offered via KaBOOM!. These grants will help communities build new playgrounds, update existing playgrounds or keep playgrounds open longer. As part of this effort, DPS and community volunteers will also build 40 new playgrounds.

4. What is KaBOOM! and why did you select them as a partner?

   KaBOOM! is a national non-profit organization dedicated to saving play. With its innovative community-build model, KaBOOM! is focused on giving every child in America a great place to play within walking distance. DPS supports the KaBOOM belief that play helps make children happier, fitter, smarter, more socially adept and creative. In the past two years, DPS has worked with KaBOOM! to build 13 new playgrounds, giving more than 32,500 children great places to play. This partnership deepens that existing relationship.

5. Why is Let’s Play important to you?

   We launched Let’s Play to reinforce our commitment to fit and active lifestyles — one of four key focus areas under our corporate philanthropy program called ACTION Nation. For our part, we want to be constructive participants in the battle against social issues like obesity, particularly in children. We believe such issues can only be solved through cooperation with everyone taking some share of responsibility and working together. Let’s Play is an important step in helping families achieve a balance when managing calories in and calories out.

6. What else is DPS doing to support fit and active lifestyles?

   DPS is focused on helping consumers make informed choices to balance calories in and calories out. We have set a goal that at least 50 percent of products in our innovation project development pipeline will be health and wellness focused by 2015. This includes reduced calorie products, offering options with smaller portion sizes, putting calorie count on the front of pack and improving the nutrition offerings in our portfolio. Let’s Play also complements First Lady Michelle Obama’s Let’s Move initiative to combat childhood obesity by encouraging kids to get active outside.h and wellness focused by 2015. This includes reduced calorie products, offering options with smaller portion sizes, putting calorie count on the front of pack and improving the nutrition offerings in our portfolio. Let’s Play also complements First Lady Michelle Obama's Let's Move initiative to combat childhood obesity by encouraging kids to get active outside.

7. Will my purchase of DPS products influence financial support of Let's Play

   No. We’ve already made the $15 million, three-year commitment to KaBOOM!. Our goal is to spread the Let’s Play movement nationwide and do our part to help get more kids active outside.

Getting Involved with Let's Play

1. I’m interested in volunteering with Let’s Play. Can I participate in a playground build?

   Yes. As playground build locations are announced, we encourage members of the community and their families to join us during playground build days. Stay tuned for playground building location updates on the Let’s Play website and for more information about how to get involved.

2. Are there other ways to get involved with Let’s Play in my community throughout the year?

   We will regularly update the Let’s Play website with happenings and events going on throughout the year. Check back often to find out if a playground build will be happening in your community and where other Let’s Play events are taking place across the country. If you would like to submit a grant request to build a playground in your community, you can apply for a Let’s Play grant here. You can also take part in the discussion forums on the Let’s Play website.

3. How can I get updates about what’s happening with Let’s Play? Is Let’s Play on Facebook or Twitter?

   Yes. Let’s Play is on both Facebook and Twitter. Feel free to visit the Let’s Play Facebook page at: http://facebook.com/LetsPlay and you can keep up-to-date about what's happening with Let's Play by following @LetsPlay on Twitter. Throughout the year we’ll also upload videos to YouTube from playground builds and events. Remember to check back for regular updates on the site.

4. How can I receive regular communications and updates about Let’s Play?

   Visit Let’s Play on Facebook and Twitter, where we’ll keep you posted on the latest information.

5. I have additional questions that are not listed here. Where can I go for more informations?

   To find out more information about Let’s Play, visit the Contact Us page to submit a question. We’ll reply back to you shortly.

Let's Play Playground Builds

1. How many playgrounds will you build or fix up?

   Together, through Let’s Play, DPS and KaBOOM! will build or fix up 2,000 playgrounds across the U.S. by the end of 2013, benefiting an estimated five million children. To reach this goal, Let’s Play will offer grants for communities to build new playgrounds, update existing playgrounds or keep playgrounds open longer. DPS and employee volunteers will also build 40 new playgrounds.

2. Where will these playgrounds be built?

   The location of the playgrounds will be based on communities most in-need and we’ll update the site regularly with selected playground locations.

3. What will the playgrounds look like?

   Each playground is unique and designed entirely by the community that will use it.

4. Who will be building the playgrounds?

   Local community volunteers will help build each playground with guidance from KaBOOM!. Additionally, more than 200 DPS employee volunteers will lead the construction in 40 communities.

5. How long does it take to build each playground?

   After a playground site is selected, we partner with KaBOOM! and the local community to assemble volunteers and resources for our playground build days. This process usually takes about two months. With the help of approximately 200 volunteers, we are able to build an amazing playground in just one day!

6. Will the playgrounds cater to children of all ages?

   Yes. Each playground is a little different, but playgrounds can accommodate children ranging from ages 2-12. Some playgrounds are more appropriate for younger children (e.g., ages 2-5) while other playgrounds are designed for older kids (e.g., ages 6-12).

7. What happens during playground builds?

   A team of approximately 200 local community volunteers spend the full day assembling the playground and improving the overall playground space through a variety of projects including painting murals, building picnic tables or benches and landscaping. Volunteers also enjoy food, beverages and entertainment throughout the day.

8. How many brand new playgrounds will be built each year?

   DPS is working with KaBOOM! to build or fix up 2,000 playgrounds by the end of 2013. Of these 2,000 playgrounds, we estimate that almost 500 will be newly built playgrounds. As part of this total, DPS employee volunteers will build 20 playgrounds in 2011, and 10 each year in 2012 and 2013.

Let's Play Grants

1. How do I apply for a Let’s Play grant?

   To apply for a grant, begin by starting a playground build project here. Follow the instructions on the site and you will be prompted to submit an application where you can request a grant to fund your playground.

2. Are Let’s Play grant requests only for community playground builds?

   Yes. In partnership with KaBOOM!, Let’s Play grants will help communities build a new playground or improve upon a playground in need of improvement or repairs.

3. Am I able to apply for more than one Let’s Play grant?

   Yes. You can apply for more than one Let’s Play grant but you can only apply for one grant per play space.

4. How will I know if you’ve received my Let’s Play grant application?

   After you’ve completed the form in the KaBOOM! Project Planner you will receive on-screen notification that you’ve successfully submitted a project and an email confirmation. You will also be contacted via phone or e-mail after further review of your project about the status of your grant application.

5. Where can I go to check on the status of my Let’s Play grant application?

   A contact from KaBOOM! will reach out to you shortly after submitting a grant application. If you don’t hear back within 2 weeks regarding your status, click here to follow-up.

6. What criteria do you look for when you evaluate Let’s Play grant applications?

   Each grant will have specific criteria. Please visit the KaBOOM! Grant Page for information related to grant eligibility.

7. How many Let’s Play grant requests will you support?

   We will improve or build 2,000 playgrounds over three years through Let’s Play — which will be funded through almost 2,000 grants.

8. How is the winner selected for each grant?

   Applications will be narrowed down to the Top 10 based on criteria for that specific grant. The Top 10 grant applications will then be posted on the Let’s Play website for voting. The project with the greatest percentage of total votes will be named the winner.

9. How will I know if I won a grant?

   A KaBOOM! representative will call you to notify you.