[3] Hammond previously studied under Dr. John Kretzmann, director of the Assets Based Community Development Institute in the Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois.

The institute, which focuses on mobilizing struggling communities using resources already at hand, served as a community-build model for KABOOM!

Hammond was also influenced by his participation in the Columbus, Ohio, and Chicago engagements of City Year, an AmeriCorps program seeking to build democracy through citizen service and social entrepreneurship.

launched the "Let Us Play" campaign, which sought to build, renovate or provide assistance to develop 1,000 community-built playgrounds by the year 2000.

[6] Vice President Al Gore and General Colin Powell helped launch the program.

started offering toolkits, training packages and other forms technical assistance to communities seeking to build playgrounds without the charity's direct oversight.

Darell Hammond also made the charity's project handbooks, best practices and guidelines available for free on the organization's website.

National Campaign for Play, a program focused specifically on rallying individuals and governments to the KABOOM!

and Home Depot have created procedures for environmental-friendly building titled "Guidelines for Eco-Friendly Service Projects".

[11] Pierre Omidyar, founder and chairman of the Internet auction company eBay, contributed $5 million to KABOOM!

has worked in collaboration with such corporations as Target, Fannie Mae and Ben & Jerry's, which created an ice cream flavor "KaBerry KaBOOM" to benefit the organization.

was featured prominently in an episode of the NBC comedy series Parks and Recreation which aired October 22, 2009.

The episode was part of a campaign in which more than 60 television shows on multiple networks spotlighted real-life charities in an effort to encourage volunteerism.

formed a partnership with Amgen, the world's largest biotechnology firm, to build 7 playgrounds across the US and Puerto Rico.

partners with Foresters Financial, the MetLife Foundation, Kraft Foods, Travelers Insurance, and Dr Pepper Snapple Group.

volunteers have worked closely with presidential administrations to serve domestic relief and education programs.

playground built at the Hancock North Central Elementary School in Kiln, Mississippi.

The project was commissioned after the Hurricane Katrina catastrophe that hit the Gulf Coast region of the United States.

The organization also offers "Do-It-Yourself" planning tools and how-to guides for those interested in building or improving a playground.

[19] Chrysler chairman Robert Nardelli, who previously worked with KABOOM!, called the charity "one of the best-run nonprofits".

National Campaign for Play program, launched in 2007, is intended to encourage individuals and governments to embrace the KABOOM!

[20] The first of these provides tools and training to individuals to assist them in outreaching to their communities in creating and cleaning play spaces.