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Sakrete Teams Up with Carolina Panthers to Build Local School Playground

Words: Margaret Foster
/Public/News/20090703060000-1.jpg" width="200" height="300" border="0" alt="The Bruns Avenue playground was the seventh annual playground installation for Charlotte BVC and CMS, and was designed by the students of Bruns Avenue.">
The Bruns Avenue playground was the seventh annual playground installation for Charlotte BVC and CMS, and was designed by the students of Bruns Avenue.
In conjunction with its Sakrete Sack Program, Sakrete®, North America’s original dry cement mix brand, partnered with Charlotte Business Volunteer Council (BVC), Charlotte-Mecklenburg School (CMS) system and the Carolina Panthers to build a new playground for Bruns Avenue Elementary School on April 22.

The Bruns Avenue playground was the seventh annual playground installation for Charlotte BVC and CMS, and was designed by the students of Bruns Avenue. Seventy organizations and approximately 120 volunteers participated in the build, which raised about $50,000 ($15,000 in in-kind donations). Sakrete donated 320 bags of Fast-Setting Concrete mix and enlisted the help of Panthers offensive guards Keydrick Vincent and Travelle Wharton for the playground equipment installation. Also, 2,000 bags of mulch were donated by Oldcastle Lawn & Garden.

“We are thrilled to have been a part of the Bruns Elementary playground build, alongside the Carolina Panthers and other volunteers,” said Johnsie Beck, president of Sakrete of North America. “Sakrete is dedicated to supporting the local community and this has been an incredible opportunity to donate materials and time for these children.”

“CMS is fortunate to have thousands of volunteers, and these folks are among our strongest and most dedicated supporters,” said Dr. Peter C. Gorman, superintendent of CMS. “Each year, they choose a school that needs a playground — and then build one. We are very grateful to them for their generosity.”

The playground build in Charlotte began seven years ago after several local executives met with then-President George W. Bush, who asked cities across the country to participate in an annual playground build. Pawtuckett Elementary has been chosen for next year’s playground build.
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