"MY CHILD DESERVES A CHANCE TO PLAY SAFELY just like the kids in Beverly Hills can!" exclaimed a mother in Watts as tears rolled down her face. Sadly, too many of these mothers fear drive-by shootings and speeding cars when their child simply wants to play outside like any other little girl or boy.

 

The children at the Watts Empowerment Center (DBA: Elevate Hope, Inc. / Red Eye) deserve a chance to play safely and WE REALLY NEED YOUR HELP! Currently, there is only one pitiful, falling apart playground by the Center with no slide, swings snapped in half and a few poles with pealed paint from 20+ years ago. This area was painfully built right next to the street where mothers UNDERSTANDABLY fear drive-by shootings or having their kids ran over by reckless drivers. A mother recently told me, "We typically sit on the bench between the street and the play area to create a small human wall to protect our children while they are outside."

NO MOM should ever have to fear for their child's safety... if they just want a few minutes to play outside.

LET'S DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS!

 

 

Watts has the largest population in all of California of SINGLE MOMS. (Many of the dads are in prison.) The average age in Watts is only 21. The largest age-group is tragically only 10 years old and younger... so basically it is KIDS RAISING KIDS. According to the LA Police Department, over 7,000 gang members live within a 2-mile-radius of the Watts Empowerment Center. So families here have a lot of reasons to be concerned about their kids playing outside.

 

 

A team of us just did a survey of every resident in this area of Watts. Not everyone answered their door, but we knocked on every door for input. What we have been told from the community is that 86% want a HUGE playground built for their children... protected behind the Watts Empowerment Center. Of these neighbors, 87% also want a safety gate to protect the area with picnic tables, shading and a place for birthdays and celebrations to take place.

 

 

THESE KIDS IN WATTS ARE TRUE VIP's! This area was recently identified as the poorest area in Los Angeles of any housing project. Yet anyone that has interacted with any of the children or community members of Watts knows that they are UNBELIEVABLY RICH IN LOVE, JOY, AND HOPE. These kids deserve the best!

 

Let's together build these young KINGS and QUEENS a safe playground like no other! It will be a MASSIVE 3-Story Playground that is fully enclosed to ensure the kids safety -- with lots of swings, shading, picnic tables, safety gating and soft astroturf or rubber flooring. We have spoken to various playground companies and feel we have created a DREAM PLAYGROUND DESIGN for these amazing kids!

 

Due to the pandemic and rising price of steel and other building materials the playground project is going to cost around $500,000. (We were shocked too but playgrounds in California are not cheap! Truly, these kids deserve the very best!) The Watts Empowerment Center has already raised $100,000 towards this project! Let's stand alongside these moms, dads, and families in creating a safe play area that is protected from drive-by shootings and speeding cars. A child who is born only 22 miles away in Beverly Hills has a life expectancy 20 years longer than a child who is born in Watts. We often say a child should NOT be defined by their zip code. We might not be able to do everything, but WE MUST DO SOMETHING to help bridge this gap!

 

PARTIAL RENDERING OF OUR PLAYGROUND DREAM IN WATTS:

 

 

Whether you are a large business, a family foundation or a parent who understands this great need, please consider being an answer to another mother's prayer.

Of course donations can receive a Tax Write-Off.

JOIN US IN GIVING A VOICE AND SAFETY TO THESE AMAZING FAMILIES IN WATTS!!!

 

 

Let's stop overlooking our own backyard and answer the cry of our fellow neighbors in need.

If not us, WHO?! If not now, WHEN?!

 

Let's seize this OPPORTUNITY FOR IMPACT!

 

- Mark and Tori Birnbaum (CEO, Catch Hospitality, LA, NYC, Vegas, Playa del Carmen, Aspen)

- Marc, Heidi, Charli, and Dixie D'Amelio (Hulu/TikTok)