New Balance, Playworks Expand The Power of Play

National program reaches 130,000 students in 23 U.S. cities; two-year $1.2 million investment

BOSTON – (January 26, 2012) – New Balance Foundation has announced a national partnership with Playworks,
a national nonprofit organization that supports learning and a
positive school climate by providing healthy, inclusive play
and physical activity, to expand the power of play to more
than 130,000 students in 23 cities across the country.

New Balance Foundation’s
$1.2 million investment over two years will help drive
advocacy, outreach, engagement and other initiatives that
directly work to build the movement for play. The funding will also
support professional development initiatives for the hundreds of
Playworks coaches who serve low-income schools nationwide. As
part of the agreement, New Balance will be the official
footwear and apparel provider for Playworks and will outfit
the coaches on the playground.

New Balance Foundation, headquartered in Boston, has been a local partner of Playworks MetroBoston
for the past year, with school sponsorship, volunteer and
employee engagement activities at 27 schools in Metro Boston.
In addition to the national partnership, The Foundation will
continue to strengthen its local partnership through dedicated
support provided to Metro Boston schools and community service
activities with New Balance associates around play and physical
activity.

“New Balance Foundation has
a wide and deep commitment to promoting healthy lifestyles in
their communities. They’ve been a dedicated partner for us in
the Boston area for the past year,” notes Playworks Founder
and CEO, Jill Vialet. “They have a high standard for
excellence and a genuine commitment to supporting leadership
and youth development. We are thrilled that they are expanding
their commitment to the power of play nationally to serve
more youth and communities every day.”

“Our partnership with
Playworks offers us an opportunity to make a meaningful
contribution towards expanding the power of play to schools
and children nationwide,” says Molly Santry, New
Balance Foundation. “Playworks has a proven program for getting
children active through play that also promotes leadership and
other qualities that are important for positive youth
development. This expanded partnership underscores the New
Balance Foundation’s long-standing commitment to building a
healthier future.”

Since 1981, New Balance
Foundation has provided more than $48M towards health and
wellness initiatives in its local communities with a focus on
the prevention of childhood obesity. In April 2011, New
Balance President & CEO Rob DeMartini was named the
country’s Most Playful CEO in a nationwide search for
inventive leaders who incorporate play and innovation into the
work environment to encourage collaboration and teamwork. The
award was sponsored by Playworks.

About Playworks
Playworks
is a national nonprofit organization that provides safe,
healthy, inclusive play and physical activity to schools at
recess and throughout the entire school day. Celebrating its
15-year anniversary, Playworks is the only nonprofit organization
in the country to send trained, full-time coaches to low-income,
urban schools. Playworks currently serves more than 130,000
children in 300 low-income schools in 23 cities throughout the
country every school day.

About New Balance Foundation
Established in 1981, the New Balance Foundation has served a deeply
held mission: to support charitable organizations whose
humanitarian efforts work for the betterment of our children
and communities. The heart of our focus is the prevention of
childhood obesity. For more information, visit: www.newbalancefoundation.org