Elevated Thought Competitors

Celebrating 30 years on the playground, Playworks believes in the power of play to bring out the best in every kid. Since 1995, Playworks has helped 5.3 million children across more than 6,000 schools and community organizations get in the game by building skills, forming friendships, and staying active through play. Today, Playworks partners with schools, districts, and community-based organizations to provide a range of services, including Playworks Coach on-site coaches, Playworks Pro training for staff, Playworks TeamUp and Reboot consultative support, and our digital tool SparkPlay. Mission: Playworks’ mission is to improve the health and well-being of children by increasing opportunities for physical activity and safe, meaningful play. Vision: Playworks’ vision is that one day every child in America will have access to safe, fun, healthy play every day.

As a national nonprofit leader in visual arts curriculum, Art in Action has proudly served over a half million kindergarten through 8th grade students since 1982. We provide classroom lessons to develop the skills of what the World Economic Forum is referring to as the Fourth Industrial Revolution, chief of these skills are creativity, critical thinking, and complex problem solving, through hands-on learning with art. Today we reach 80,000 students and train nearly 2,000 teachers and parent volunteers in more than 300 schools and after-school programs nationwide. 50% of those we serve are Title I schools in underserved communities. Art in Action strives to be relevant to today's students and schools. In addition to our original Legacy curriculum line, developed by founder Judy Sleeth, we developed art forward STEAM lessons and lessons that teach students cultural understanding, social justice, healing through art, art appreciation and technique. Our lessons are aligned with Next Generation Science, Common Core, and National Core Art Standards. Art in Action has 9 full- and part-time employees and a 12-member Board of Trustees made up of current and former business leaders, community volunteers, and professionals in the tech industry. The organization seeks earned and raised revenue with nearly half of its budget funded through individuals, corporations and foundations.

Young Audiences Arts for Learning is the nation’s largest and oldest provider of arts-integrated education, dedicated to transforming how young people learn—through the power of the arts. Each year, we reach more than five million K-12 students and their families in underserved communities across the country. We champion a future where every child’s creativity is valued, nurtured, and empowered to flourish. We believe the arts are not a luxury—they are an essential foundation for learning, expression, and opportunity. Through long-term partnerships, professional teaching artists work alongside classroom educators to bring core subjects—like literacy, science, math, and history—to life. Using music, dance, visual art, theater, and digital media, our programs spark curiosity, deepen understanding, and cultivate lifelong skills like critical thinking, collaboration, and creative problem-solving. Founded in 1952, Young Audiences Arts for Learning leads a dynamic national network of affiliates committed to advancing equity and quality in arts education. Together, we advocate, innovate, and build capacity to ensure that every student—regardless of background—can experience an arts-rich education that unlocks their potential. For over 70 years, we’ve stood at the intersection of creativity and learning. Today, we continue to evolve and lead—imagining new possibilities for the next generation.