As a non-profit organization, KaBOOM! was started in 1996 but inspiration for it was sown the year before Darell Hammond read a story about two children suffocating while playing inside an abandoned car for lack of a playground to go to. Hammond realized the tragedy could’ve been prevented had there been a playground available for the two and so the idea for KaBOOM! was born. 

Before KaBOOM! was officially launched, Hammond had already started working on his idea while leading City Year Chic...