Our efforts focus on transforming the school experience for a generation of students in Oakland
Workday and Eat. Learn. Play. have been partners since 2019, a partnership built on a shared set of values and a common belief in making a real impact in the communities we serve. Through the first three annual Workday Charity Classics, we have raised nearly $6 million over three years with 100% of the proceeds going to support Oakland youth.
The Workday Charity Classic aims to positively impact lives in the Bay Area and beyond, by providing local communities with the support and opportunities they need.
This Year’s Workday Charity Classic charitable focus supports Eat. Learn. Play’s commitment to Ensuring all Oakland elementary and middle school students have access to safe and equitable places and opportunities to play
We are focusing our efforts on improving Oakland public schools to transform the school experience for a generation of students – ensuring all OUSD students are provided the nutritious meals they need to thrive, the support needed to become stronger readers, and great schoolyards and opportunities to be active and participate in youth sports.
Our Challenge
In 2022, Eat. Learn. Play. published a report on the State of Play in Oakland alongside the Aspen Institute to identify the greatest challenges and opportunities in our community. The research revealed that in Oakland, only 14% of youth are getting an hour of physical activity per day, and there’s a stark gender gap as Oakland girls (9%) and much less likely to be sufficiently active than boys (19%).
The State of Play Oakland report recommended engaging Oakland schools as community playspace hubs and conduits for sustainable exposure to free play and a variety of sports, which has informed our strategy towards advancing play for Oakland students.
Our Initiatives
The money raised from the Workday Charity Classic will contribute to:
Transforming 25 OUSD elementary schoolyards that will also serve surrounding neighborhoods, providing safe and high-quality schoolyards for kids to play and be active. The schoolyards will include state-of-the-art multi-sport courts, mini soccer pitches, play structures designed by the kids that will use them, community gardens, outdoor classrooms and reading areas, murals and more.
Revitalizing elementary and middle school sports programs so all students can experience the joy and benefits of youth sports.
