Recently my daughter and I visited the DC headquarters of KaBOOM!, a very cool non-profit that builds playgrounds (their vision statement: “a great place to play within walking distance of every child in America”).

KaBOOM! is housed in the basement of a fairly nondescript and aesthetically-challenged office building in Van Ness, in northwest DC. The contrast between the elevator and sterile hallway that make up the approach to their office and the colorful scene of busy bright-eyed folks working amidst examples of playground equipment that emerges when you open their door is quite dramatic.

I was lucky enough to get a tour because my friend Ted is their director of Business and Brand Development. He is actually a founding member of Kaboom! and according to his online bio he is officially known on the books as employee 001.

KaBOOM seems to be doing tremendously well and will have built at least one playground in every state, scores of them in many states.

I do not often think “wow, this seems like a great organization” -- but I did think so at KaBOOM!