Photo by Brenda Sexton
Playground installers were hard at work putting together equipment at Kid's BASE Friday.
By Brenda Sexton
The Courier-Herald
Before the students at Enumclaw's Kid's BASE (Before and After School Enrichment) took off for the summer break, they helped Director Kathleen Michael and the board of directors select new playground equipment.
When they return in September, thanks to an $18,000 grant from The Employees Community Fund of Boeing Puget Sound, it'll be waiting for them.
"The kids are very excited," Michael said. "It was a cooperative effort. They picked out the play pieces and colors."
Kid's BASE is a nonprofit organization providing state-licensed, school-age childcare for kids in kindergarten through fifth grade. It was created in 1993 by community members, business leaders, early childhood professionals and parents to meet the needs of working families with young children.
The program is overseen by a community board of directors and the staffing level exceeds state requirements in the area of school-age development. Kid's BASE is set up to work in conjunction with the Enumclaw School District calendar, closing on holidays and vacations. The regular school schedule is 6 to 9 a.m. and 3 to 6 p.m. On school district half days and inservice days the hours are 6 to 9 a.m. and noon to 6 p.m.
Kid's BASE leases property from the Enumclaw School District at 1920 Division St., between the former J.J. Smith Elementary building and Kibler Elementary, .
The grant, which was awarded in March, will cover all costs, including purchase from Northwest Playground Equipment in Issaquah and installation. Initially, Kid's BASE leaders submitted the grant more than a year ago, but went through the interview process this spring.
The Employees Community Fund is the largest employee-owned charitable organization in the world. The private, nonprofit organization receives contributions from Boeing employees and retirees and distributes them to health and human service agencies in communities where Boeing employees live and work. Last year, nearly $20 million was distributed to nonprofit organizations in the Puget Sound area.
Boeing's Puget Sound area Employees Community Fund wasn't the only one to make a donation, however.
"Jensen (Bart Jensen of Jensen Sand and Gravel in Enumclaw) came out on a Saturday on his own time and donated the site prep," Michael said.
As a nonprofit organization, Michael said, those donations are important.
Kid's BASE operates on a limited budget of $62,000 a year which supports the 32 families that utilize the program and the five staff members that run it.
Michael anticipates that number will grow by about 14 families when Kid's BASE adds a pre-kindergarten program this fall. The program will cater to 4- and 5-year-olds from 9:30 a.m. to noon Monday, Wednesday and Friday.
For information on any of the Kid's BASE programs or to register for the pre-K program call 360-825-8330.
Brenda Sexton can be reached at bsexton@courierherald.com.
