Qubo, in partnership with the National Cable & Telecommunications Association’s Cable Cares community service project, national nonprofit organization Kaboom and more than 200 volunteers from the local community and the cable industry, took part Saturday in the dedication of a new playground at an elementary school here.
Ion’s network targeting kids and families provided funding for the playground at the Sarah T. Reed Elementary School. A ribbon-cutting ceremony for the facility was attended Saturday by New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin; Qubo president and general manager Rick Rodriguez; NCTA president and CEO Kyle McSlarrow; Ion Media Networks executive vice president for policy and strategic initiatives John Lawson; NCTA convention co-chairs Debra Lee, BET chairman and CEO, and Rocco Commisso, Mediacom chairman and CEO; Paul Vallas, Recovery School District Superintendent; and Daphyne Burnett and Lois Jones, Sarah T. Reed Elementary School principal and assistant principal, respectively.
The new playground spans 50 feet by 63 feet and offers an array of activities for children, including tunnel slides, climbing walls and other climbing structures and swings, among other items. The playground will feature an originally-commissioned, hand-painted mural designed by local New Orleans artist Shakor and painted on-site with the help of students of the school. The mural features characters from qubo Channel shows, including VeggieTales, Jane and theDragon, Babar, Pecola and the upcoming Turbo Dogs.
“Before this playground, we had a dirt play area which was unwelcoming and nhospitable to the needs of our children,” said Burnett in a statement. “Thanks to qubo Channel, our children finally have a fun and inviting place to play.
“When we learned of the opportunity to donate a playground for children who have been so tragically affected by Hurricane Katrina, we knew this was a perfect fit for qubo Channel,” notedRodriguez. “Just as our channel and website provide a safe and family friendly environment that parents can trust, we hope that this new playground provides a safe and friendly outdoor space for children to enjoy.”
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