"KaBOOM! chronicles Darell Hammond's amazing journey from a childhood spent living in a group home in Illinois to becoming the cofounder and CEO of KaBOOM!, an organization with this mission at its core: harnessing the power of community to save play for children. one playground at a time. Like The Blue Sweater and Three Cups of Tea, KaBOOM! demonstrates how one idealist can change the world and how small, civic-minded steps create a ripple effect that can precipitate change in communities and eventually change in the world at large. More than just a memoir, KaBOOM! is a call to action that will inspire readers by challenging them to rethink traditional notions of community and social change. This is the story of a man with a vision: Play is the best natural resource in a creative economy. Kids need more of it; it is not a luxury but a necessity for their lives. Through hard work, commitment, and the conviction that access to a safe play environment is the fundamental right of all children, Hammond built an organization that has raised almost $200 million, directly built 2,000 playgrounds with a million volunteers, and touched the lives of countless children and families"--Provided by publisher.