LITTLE ROCK, AR, October, 18, 2016 – Dr Pepper Snapple Group (DPS) and national non-profit KaBOOM! awarded Ronald McDonald House Charities® of Arkansas a $15,000 Let’s Play Community Construction Grant that will be used to build a playground at the new Ronald McDonald House facility at 10th and Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Blvd. in Little Rock.

The grant is part of Let’s Play, an initiative by DPS to provide kids and families with the tools, places and inspiration to make active play a daily priority. Unstructured, child-directed play has proven to help kids develop physically, emotionally, socially and intellectually, yet today’s kids have less time and fewer opportunities to play than any previous generation. As a result of expanded Let’s Play grants and projects, more than 1 million kids will benefit from new or improved playgrounds around the nation by the end of 2016.

“We are thrilled that we can create this fantastic playground for the children who are living in Ronald McDonald House, thanks to the generosity of Dr Pepper Snapple Group and KaBOOM!,” said RMHCA Executive Director, Janell  Mason. “The children staying in the House desperately need an outlet to relieve stress and have fun, so this playground is just what the doctor ordered.”

The grant will be used to purchase a colorful new play area designed for 5-12 year olds who are staying at Ronald McDonald House. It will feature a rock wall climber, jungle vine climber, rock n’ roll slide, touch and play piano, touch and play drum and a tom-tom drum. Having this playground will allow kids who are being treated at the hospital, or are here because a sibling is in the hospital, a way to get exercise and have fun with playing with new friends. The playground will be a part of the healing process, both mentally and physically.

DPS launched Let’s Play in 2011 with a $15 million commitment to KaBOOM! to build or improve 2,000 playgrounds. In 2014, Dr Pepper Snapple and KaBOOM! extended their partnership through 2016 with an additional $10 million commitment from DPS to continue providing kids with the active play they need.

Visit Let’s Play at www.LetsPlay.com to join the conversation and learn how to apply for the various available grants to make communities more active and playful.

About Ronald McDonald House Charities of Arkansas

Ronald McDonald House Charities® of Arkansas enhances the lives of children and their families by creating and supporting programs that directly improve the health and well-being of children. These programs include the Ronald McDonald House® and the Ronald McDonald Care Mobile®. The Ronald McDonald House provides a home away from home for families with ill children being treated at local hospitals. The Ronald McDonald Care Mobile is a 40-foot, state-of-the-art mobile clinic that provides free dental care and education to underserved children in their own neighborhoods. To learn more, visit rmhclittlerock.org. Social Media: @RMHCArkansas #KeepingFamiliesClose

About Let’s Play

Let’s Play is an initiative launched in 2011 by Dr Pepper Snapple Group to provide the tools, places and inspiration to make play a daily priority. By 2017, DPS will provide nearly 10 million children across North America with new opportunities to play and be active through Let’s Play. In partnership with the nonprofit organizations KaBOOM! and Good Sports, Let’s Play is working to eliminate the ‘play deficit’ by building and improving play spaces and providing grants for athletic equipment and gear. For more information, please visit LetsPlay.com or Facebook.com/LetsPlay.

About Dr Pepper Snapple Group

Dr Pepper Snapple Group (NYSE: DPS) is a leading producer of flavored beverages in North America and the Caribbean. Our success is fueled by more than 50 brands that are synonymous with refreshment, fun and flavor. We have 6 of the top 10 non-cola soft drinks, and 13 of our 14 leading brands are No. 1 or No. 2 in their flavor categories. In addition to our flagship Dr Pepper and Snapple brands, our portfolio includes 7UP, A&W, Canada Dry, Clamato, Crush, Hawaiian Punch, Mott's, Mr & Mrs T mixers, Peñafiel, Rose's, Schweppes, Squirt and Sunkist soda. To learn more about our iconic brands and Plano, Texas-based company, please visit www.DrPepperSnapple.com. For our latest news and updates, follow us at www.Facebook.com/DrPepperSnapple or www.Twitter.com/DrPepperSnapple.

About KaBOOM!

KaBOOM! is the national non-profit dedicated to giving all kids – particularly those growing up in poverty in America – the childhood they deserve filled with balanced and active play, so they can thrive. Since 1996, KaBOOM! has collaborated with partners to build, open, or improve nearly 16,300 playgrounds, engaged more than one million volunteers, and served 8.1 million kids. KaBOOM! creates great places to play, inspires communities to promote and support play, and works to drive the national discussion about the importance of play in fostering healthy and productive lives. To learn why #playmatters and why cities are embracing #playability: visit kaboom.org or join the conversation at twitter.com/kaboom or facebook.com/kaboom.

​LITTLE ROCK, AR, (October 18, 2016) – Ronald McDonald House Charities of Arkansas (RMHCA) is teaming up with volunteers from the Nike Outlet Store and the United States Air Force to build the playground at the brand new Ronald McDonald House at the corner of 10th Street and Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Drive in Little Rock.

On October 31 and November 1, volunteers from Nike Outlet Store and U.S. Air Force Unit 373TRS will work with RMHCA staff to build a colorful new play area designed for 5-12 year olds. It will  feature a rock wall climber, jungle vine climber, rock n’ roll slide, touch and play piano, touch and play drum and a tom tom drum.

The build will incorporate the professional guidance and community-build model of Davis  Playgrounds.. After a two-day construction “blitz”,  the amazing new playground will stand where there is currently just a concrete slab. Davis Playgrounds will also install a two story spiral slide that allow kids to travel from the second floor treehouse down to the playground itself. After the poured-in-place rubber surface is installed a few days later, the new playground will be ready for kids and families to enjoy.

The Grand Opening of the new Ronald McDonald House will take place on Wednesday, November 16, at 10:00 a.m. After the ceremony is complete, a child will take the first slide down from the treehouse and children will be encouraged to use the playground for the fist time. After families start moving in to the new House on November 18, the playground will be used by all families staying  at the House.

“We are thrilled that we can create this fantastic playground for our famiies,” said RMHCA Executive Direcctor, Janell  Mason. “We are grateful for the grant from KaBOOM! Dr Pepper Snapple Group that made the playground possible.”

Spare Change Donations Fill RMHCA Donation Boxes at McDonald’s to Help Strengthen Families with Critically-ill Children

LITTLE ROCK, AR, (October 7, 2016) –Ronald McDonald House Charities of Arkansas (RMHCA) is celebrating its annual Day of Change and 36 years of keeping families close. RMHCA invites individuals, businesses and community groups to support local families with critically-ill children by visiting participating Central Arkansas McDonald’s locations  between 7-9 am on October 7 and donating their spare change in the restaurant’s Donation Boxes. 

Throughout 2015, coins donated locally through the Donation Box program totaled more than $145,000 for Ronald McDonald House Charities of Arkansas. The funds collected are used to support families with children facing medical crises. A full Donation Box sponsors one night at a Ronald McDonald House for a family while their child receives medical treatment in a nearby hospital.

“A simple act of kindness at the front counter or drive through is a powerful gift for local RMHC families,” said Janell Mason, Exectutive Director of RMHCA. “For families with children in need of critical medical care, the thought of being more than a few steps from the hospital seems just too far. A person’s spare change combined with that of their neighbors can add up to make a big difference for these families. It keeps them close to each other and to the care and resources their child needs.”

On October 7, from 7:00 – 9:00 a.m., Ronald McDonald House volunteers will be collecting change in the drive-through lines at a number of Central Arkansas McDonald’s locations, The spare change helps parents remain close to their children and get higher quality of sleep so they can be better equipped to make important medical decisions. McDonald’s customers who participate in Day of Change are encouraged to share photos to  show how they helped support RMHC on social media using #forRMHC.  (On October 7th and everyday)