For hundreds of children at La Causa, school is more than a place to learn. It is where they build friendships, gain confidence, stay active, and feel safe.
Whether it’s a toddler taking their first steps on a playground, a student burning off energy before returning to class, or a group of friends learning teamwork on the field, play is an essential part of childhood. It helps children develop physically, socially, emotionally, and academically.
Today, many of the outdoor and activity spaces our children rely on are in urgent need of repair.
Thanks to a generous matching gift from the Burke Foundation, every donation to the Power of Play Campaign will be doubled, helping twice as many children benefit from safe, engaging spaces to learn and play.
That’s why La Causa is launching the Power of Play Campaign—a community effort to create safer, more engaging spaces where children can move, explore, learn, and thrive.
Play is not a break from learning. It is learning.
Research shows that active play helps children develop problem-solving skills, emotional regulation, creativity, communication, and resilience. It supports physical health, strengthens social connections, and helps students return to the classroom ready to learn.
For the 575 children served by La Causa Charter School and La Causa Early Education & Care Center, these spaces are especially important. Many of the families we serve live within three miles of campus, where access to updated parks and safe recreational spaces is limited.
For many children, the playgrounds and fields at La Causa are their primary places to run, explore, imagine, and simply be kids.
👉 Want to learn more about the children and families your gift supports? Visit our Who We Serve page or our Annual Report.
Over time, our facilities have begun to show their age.
At La Causa Charter School, playground equipment has deteriorated, safety surfacing has worn down, and the current layout no longer meets the needs of students ranging from K4 through eighth grade.
A damaged fence surrounding the sports field has reduced safe recreational access and allowed trash and debris onto the property.
At our Early Education & Care Center, foundation and drainage issues have caused recurring flooding, limiting indoor play opportunities during Wisconsin’s long winters and forcing the closure of a classroom that could otherwise serve eight additional infants.
These challenges affect more than buildings and equipment. They affect children’s opportunities to play, learn, and grow.
Through the Power of Play Campaign, La Causa will:
✅ Renovate the Charter School playground to better serve students from K4 through 8th grade
✅ Repair and secure sports field fencing and add safety netting
✅ Address foundation and drainage issues to restore indoor play space
✅ Reopen a classroom and create capacity for eight additional infants
✅ Build an outdoor classroom that expands hands-on learning opportunities
Together, these improvements will create welcoming spaces that support active movement, creativity, social-emotional development, and educational success for generations of children to come.
Now is the perfect time to make an impact.
Thanks to the generosity of the Burke Foundation, every donation made to the Power of Play Campaign will be matched dollar-for-dollar.
That means a $25 gift becomes $50.
A $100 gift becomes $200.
Every contribution goes twice as far in creating safe playgrounds, improved learning spaces, and brighter futures for children.
This campaign is about more than repairing equipment.
It’s about creating opportunities.
It’s about restoring safe spaces.
It’s about ensuring every child has room to run, explore, imagine, and thrive.
Whether you choose to donate, volunteer, or share this campaign, you are helping create brighter futures for the next generation.
Interested in getting involved beyond giving? Visit our Volunteer page to learn how you can make a hands-on impact.
