Help us reach our goal of $50,000 for inclusion! 

Growing up with Cerebral Palsy, I was often excluded by people my age. Kids who have disabilities can have trouble making friends. But, you can always find a friend at the PlayGarden. Seeing kids happy and enjoying camp is important to me. When someone has a disability they don’t always feel that they can be themselves and not judged in society. The PlayGarden is a place for kids with (or without) disabilities to be themselves. That is meaningful to me because I often felt judged by others when I was a kid. That is not a great way to grow up. I can help kids at the PlayGarden who might have the challenges like the ones I had. I know that I belong there, and can help others feel that way too. ” – 

Ella Mae MacPherson-George,
PlayGarden Youth Leader & Summer Camp Counselor

Dear Friends,
I’m happy to report that the twelve-week wheelchair basketball series we launched in partnership with Seattle Adaptive Sports has continued to grow. Since the summer, our team has ballooned to sixteen ‘local’ youth with disabilities. Some kids will drive nearly two hours one-way because there would be no other opportunity to compete in an adaptive team sport. These kids love to play basketball! They are crashing, fouling, and making big buckets. The PlayGarden gave us a real home court over the summer. Through community support, we can continue to provide the only summer wheelchair basketball program in western Washington. Please consider making a donation to our Miles of Smiles campaign to help us ensure that all children have a place to play.

From all of us here at the PlayGarden, have a wonderful holiday season!

Best Wishes,

Nick Weiss, 
PlayGarden Board Member/Seattle Sonics Prep Coach

kid throwing basket ball in the air during wheel chair basketball practice
Group of kids sending off rockets at summer camp

Dear PlayGarden Families,

One of the more rewarding things I did over the long Thanksgiving weekend was launching rockets for the PlayGarden community on Saturday, an activity I used to carry out for the campers back when I worked at the PlayGarden summer camp back in 2016 and 2017.  Summer camp provides the children in our community with an inclusive space to play with their friends, learn about all the plants and insects in our garden, play sports on our basketball court, and – my personal favorite when I was a camper – make friends with all the chickens, bunnies, and ducks who live in the Garden House. Every child should have the chance to play outside in a supportive environment, and your donations will ensure that no child will ever be turned away because of their family’s financial situation, and that we can provide this opportunity for years to come.

From all of us here at the PlayGarden, have a wonderful holiday season!

Best Wishes,

Ei Sitchin, 
PlayGarden Board Member 

YOUR GIFT TO THE PLAYGARDEN BRINGS…
INCLUSIVE PRESCHOOL ★ SUMMER CAMP ★ YOUTH LEADERSHIP ★ MEANINGFUL EMPLOYMENT P ★ ACCESS TO NATURE

Donations can also be mailed into our office at, 
1745 24th Avenue South. Seattle, WA 98144 │ 206.325.5576