Help Kids Play at WBA

When you think back to childhood, do you remember the time you spent on the playground?  Developing friendships, jumping off swings, and hanging from the monkey bars? Children today spend less time playing outside than generations past. However, research shows children who play outside:

· Become fitter and leaner

·Develop stronger immune systems and lower stress     levels

· Have more active imaginations and creative play

· Have greater respect for themselves and others


Windsor Bergen Academy,  is a nonprofit; special education school that joined The Village of Ridgewood community last year when we moved into the former Mount Carmel School building. Windsor Bergen Academy services classified students who exhibit learning, behavioral and emotional disorders. We provide a therapeutic environment to address students’ social, emotional, behavioral, and academic needs. At Windsor Bergen Academy, we strive to unlock the potential of each student to improve the child’s academic achievement and social functioning. One privilege that has proven to be a strong motivator for our students is outdoor play.


Playgrounds provide a safe environment for children to facilitate friendships and enhance their cognitive, social, physical, and emotional growth. Unfortunately, the playground on the school grounds is not a safe outlet for our students or the children of the community. The ground is uplifted and the single standing structure is outdated. Upon opening our school, we made a large investment in making the classrooms and facility a safe and therapeutic learning environment for our students.  Due to our nonprofit status and financial limits, we were unable to update the current playground.


Thankfully KaBoom! And PSE&G foundation saw the need for play in our school community and choose us for an amazing opportunity.  

On September 15, 2016, PSEG Foundation and Windsor Bergen Academy will build a dream playground in ONE day. The project is in partnership with KaBoom!, the national nonprofit dedicated to giving kids the childhood they deserve by bringing play to those who need it the most. We cannot be more grateful for this opportunity. In addition, as a community together as one, rallied around importance of  play, we ask that you help us meet our fundraising goal of $10,000 to allocate towards the project.  No matter how big or how small, every penny is one step closer to our students having the opportunity to grow and learn from outdoor play.

With your help, we can unlock the potential of our outdoor play area for the community and our special education students. It is with the utmost sincerity and appreciation that Windsor Bergen Academy and our students thank you for any contribution you are able to make.