WHAT: SAISD Foundation cuts ribbon on PK-2nd grade playground and outdoor learning spaces
Water and nature play, musical equipment, and mud kitchens will transform outdoor areas into active spaces for creative, social-emotional, and gross motor skill development. Children from pre-kindergarten through second grade at three SAISD campuses are benefiting from new outdoor learning spaces, funded by the Najim Charitable Foundation.
WHO:
Melissa Bauman, Najim Charitable Foundation President
Judy Geelhoed, SAISD Foundation Executive Director
Art Valdez, SAISD Trustee
Jennifer Soto, Green Elementary Principal
Pre-kindergarten students and teachers
WHEN:
Tuesday, Aug. 25, 2026 – 10 a.m.
WHERE:
Green Elementary at Riverside Park, 202 School St., 78210
Funding from The Najim Charitable Foundation powers play equipment at SAISD Schools
The SAISD Foundation is hosting a ribbon-cutting ceremony at Green Elementary at Riverside Park to celebrate the installation of new, dynamic outdoor learning environments designed specifically for young learners. Funded through a grant from the Najim Charitable Foundation, the project brings specialized outdoor equipment to three SAISD campuses: Beacon Hill Primary, Franklin Elementary, and Green Elementary at Riverside Park.
"Transforming standard playgrounds into rich, hands-on learning spaces give our youngest students the foundation they need to thrive," said Judy Geelhoed, Executive Director of the SAISD Foundation. "Thanks to the generous support of the Najim Charitable Foundation and our community partners, we are turning empty spaces into vibrant environments where play drives academic readiness, creativity, and lifelong success."
About the SAISD Foundation
Celebrating 20 years of investing in San Antonio ISD, the SAISD Foundation is the nonprofit partner of San Antonio ISD and a 501(c)(3) public charity dedicated to growing opportunities for students, educators, and schools. Each year, the Foundation strategically invests approximately $4 million to expand access to enriching PK–12 learning experiences, strengthen and support educators, transform learning environments, and increase college and career success. Powered by the generosity of businesses, foundations, alumni, and individual donors, the Foundation helps bridge funding gaps, advance educational equity, and create opportunities beyond what public funding alone can provide for the 40,000 students in San Antonio ISD. Guided by its North Star — Every SAISD student. Every family. Every generation strengthened through education. — the Foundation is building bright futures across San Antonio. Learn more at www.saisdfoundation.com.