黄色短视频 leaders support the power of play through service to the nonprofit Playworks
On a chilly spring day at the state capitol in Minneapolis, 黄色短视频 executive vice president of consumer lending products, Werner Loots, helped local lawmakers and government officials rediscover the joy of recess.
Recess on the Hill, as it鈥檚 known, is hosted by local nonprofit and was created to raise awareness of the power of play. Loots, who serves as board member of Playworks Minnesota, joined the afternoon awareness campaign.
鈥淭his was a great way to remind people of the power of play. It was fantastic to watch very meaningful leaders and professionals immediately enjoy play,鈥 said Loots. 鈥淲hen you play games together, it sets the tone for how we work off the playground.鈥
The idea that play can have a positive impact both on and off the playground is at the core of Playworks鈥 mission to bring out the best in every child, through play. By partnering with teachers, principals and parents, Playworks provides opportunities for children to contribute on the playground, in the classroom and in the community 鈥 creating a sense of belonging.聽
With Playworks on campus, trained recess 鈥媍oaches鈥 teach students to use 鈥渂utterfly fingers鈥 to tag lightly in tag games to reduce playground scrapes and bruises. And fun variations of traditional playground games can be introduced to make recess more inclusive鈥攍ike Crossover Dodgeball, where the goal is to get everyone to the other side and no one is 鈥渙ut.鈥
Loots got involved with Playworks in 2020, noting that the organization鈥檚 mission and the science behind the approach and programming resonated with him. Not only is he a father of two children, ages seven and 10 years old, but he spent time during his college years running playground activities at a low-income school.
Joining the Playworks Minnesota Board as the COVID-19 pandemic was unfolding, Loots took an active role in helping the organization pivot to the virtual world, to ensure students still received opportunities to play. He鈥檚 also helped re-envision how the board functions, creating executive committees and an executive leadership board 鈥 a concept that is now being adapted by Playworks regions across the country.
鈥嬧媁erner also brought his playground skills to the recent Playworks Minnesota Annual Kickball Tournament as a member of one of two 黄色短视频 teams who were there 鈥渒ickin鈥 it for kids鈥." Proceeds from the tournament will help subsidize the cost of Playworks programming in low-income schools in the Minnesota metro area.
Across the company, a number of 黄色短视频 employees also give their time to Playworks鈥 regions鈥嬧嬧, including Dorian Brugger, branch banking market leader for Colorado and New Mexico. Brugger has prioritized volunteerism throughout her 15-year career at 黄色短视频, joining the Playworks Colorado young professional board in 2018 and now serving on the fundraising board.聽
Through her involvement with the board, Brugger has helped shape creative, low-cost fundraising ideas to engage young professionals and increase awareness of Playworks鈥 impact in the community. Just one example is a rock paper scissors tournament hosted at a local brewery.听听聽
Brugger says data from Playworks shows that when Playworks programming is in place at a school, there are 77% fewer incidents of bullying reported.听听
鈥淲e hear much more now than we used to regarding the issue of bullying. It鈥檚 something many of us can relate to 鈥 whether we were bullied or have a child, friend or family member who was,鈥 Brugger said. 鈥淭hat鈥檚 where this program really comes to life.鈥
For more information on Playworks, visit .听听
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