Awards
Better Business Torch Award for Ethics
PlayCore is honored to accept the Better Business Bureau Torch Award for Marketplace Ethics in SE Tennessee/NW Georgia. The Award honors companies that make a demonstrable effort to promote ethical business practices. “The purpose of this award is to recognize annually those businesses in our community and service area committed to maintaining exceptionally high standards of ethical behavior in buyer and seller relationships,” said Jim Winsett, President of BBB.
The Better Business Bureau system believes that consistently conducting business in an ethical fashion and providing service excellence is as important as any other aspect of corporate management. By conducting this award competition each year, the organization seeks to highlight the importance of a company’s obligation in the marketplace to do what is right and what is fair. Award recipients are selected by an independent panel of judges each year.
“How we conduct business is as important as the business results we achieve,” stated PlayCore CEO Bob Farnsworth. “We believe in building communities through play, a goal we strive for by creating a strong community within our organization. We incorporate our Mission and Values into every aspect of our business. While we design, market and manufacture play and recreation products, we also allocate significant resources into research, education, programs, and partnerships that benefit the industry, and the communities we serve.”
The award ceremony was held May 23 in Chattanooga.
Best Website for Children
www.pathwaysforplay.org, the go-to website to learn about infusing play along pathways for children and families, created in partnership between PlayCore and the Natural Learning Institute has been chosen as the “Best Website for Kids and Trails” by the American Trails organization. The award was recently announced in their March newsletter, which reaches over 20,000 trail professionals. It is also included on the American Trails Website http://www.americantrails.org/webcon10.html.
American Trails continues an annual contest to seek out the best websites in the cyberworld of trails and greenways. Their goal is to recognize the diversity of the trails community, including urban trails and bikeways, greenways, wilderness hiking trails, motorized routes, and winter trails.
Pathways for Play was recognized for helping communities create networks of shared use pathways, infused with play pockets, and usable by all for healthy recreation and non-motorized transportation.
Corporate Philanthropist of the Year
PlayCore has been named by the Chattanooga Chapter of the Association of Fundraising Professionals as the 2009 Corporate Philanthropist of the Year. This organization recognizes two individuals and one corporation annually that demonstrate a “breadth and depth of philanthropic activity over a sustained period of time” and have made a substantial difference for the Chattanooga community. PlayCore was honored at the National Philanthropy Day awards luncheon, held in Chattanooga.
PlayCore believes in corporate and employee giving, which is exemplified through Employee Days of Caring events, corporate match programs, and other community volunteer efforts initiated by employees as we work together to enhance the quality of life in the communities where we live, work, and play.
Hot 100 list
PlayCore was chosen as one of the Hot 100 companies for 2008 by Business TN magazine. Each year the publication chooses 100 companies who represent the best Tennessee has to offer in terms of entrepreneurial growth and vision, for their Hot 100 list. Business TN describes their hot 100 as "Fast growing, emerging, or full of promise, they represent the best Tennessee has to offer in terms of entrepreneurial vision and growth. Key criteria in the selection process are revenue, employee growth, growth over a period of years, and growth compared to industry average.
The magazine states that its Hot 100 spotlights companies that are enriching local and regional economics, providing jobs, and fueling the state's entrepreneurial culture.
AAPAR Presidential Citation
As one of AAPAR’s PAR Three consultants, PlayCore collaborated with AAPAR to produce the popular curriculum Play On! Playground Learning Activities for Youth Fitness, earning the company a Presidential Citation. Play On! promotes overall fitness, learning, and fun through six key elements of play that support physical activity, help to develop wellness habits, and meet national standards. "We’re excited to be working with PlayCore in promoting the Play On! program, and it dovetails nicely with our new Head Start Body Start National Center for Physical Development and Outdoor Play," Mariah Burton Nelson, executive director of AAPAR, said. "We’re confident that the Play On! program will help children reconnect with their love of creative and healthful play."
Safety All Star Award
PlayCore’s Swing-N-Slide brand was among the elite group chosen for a Safety All Star award, from the Home Safety Council for their 2006 Play Set Safety week program. Their All-Star Award recognizes corporations and individuals who have implemented safety programs to increase awareness about home injuries and what can be done to reduce home injury risks. Stated Home Safety Council President, Meri-K Appy, “The companies we selected as recipients of the Safety All-Star Award play an important role in helping to carry out the Home Safety Council’s mission, by providing information to help reduce the risk of unintentional injury in and around the home.”
Retailer’s Choice Award
Swing-N-Slide, America’s first do-it-yourself backyard play system was awarded a prestigious Retailer’s Choice award for its 2006 introduction of the Rapid-LOC™ bracket system. This innovative interlocking bracket system significantly cuts down the time required to build a backyard play system, while increasing the overall sturdiness of the set. Do It Yourself Retailing, a monthly publication of the North American Retail Hardware Association and the leading authority in the home improvement industry, presents the Retailers Choice Awards annually at the National Hardware Show. The elite list of winners is selected by a panel of home improvement retailers, and represent only the most unique and innovative products displayed at the show.
