The Yelp Foundation has announced plans to give $100,000 to Playworks Arizona to help continue to spread their mission of making recess a positive and productive time for kids. The check presentation will take place on October 27 at 9 a.m. at Loma Linda Elementary, one of the 28 Playworks schools in Arizona.
Playworks is a national nonprofit that partners with elementary schools. Their vision is that one day every child in America will get to play—every day. They create a place for every kid on the playground; a place where every kid belongs, has fun and is part of the game.
In 2011, the Board of Directors of Yelp Inc. established the Yelp Foundation. In its first two years, the Foundation matched Yelp employee donations to give a combined total of more than $100,000 to nonprofits each year. The Foundation also created an annual grant program that awarded $400,000 to several charities in 2013. In 2014, the Foundation gave a total of $1 million to charity, through grants to nonprofits across the U.S., including up to $200,000 to four Phoenix-area nonprofits, plus additional awards matching donations made to charities by Yelp employees of up to $1,000 per person.
“The Yelp Foundation is thrilled to be able to support local Arizona communities through our grant program,” said Erica Galos Alioto, Yelp Foundation Board Member. “We hope that these grants will further local nonprofits’ efforts and bring awareness to the need for programs that cultivate a healthy education environment for kids of all ages.”
“Playworks Arizona is a proud recipient of this amazing $100,000 gift from the Yelp Foundation,” said Executive Director Chuck Warshaver. “Our outstanding team of coaches strive to make recess a fun, safe and inclusive time for all kids, and what better time to spread this message about inclusion than during National Bullying Prevention Awareness Month? This money will expand our impact and directly benefit the tens of thousands of children we currently serve daily.”
Fortunately, the impact of the Yelp Foundation’s endowment continues to multiply, thanks to Yelp’s decision to make philanthropy a priority early on by funding the Foundation through a gift of Yelp stock. While it started small, the Foundation currently has more than $30 million in assets, which allows it to make substantial grants each year.
