Children worldwide love the bright blocks we know as “Legos.” Research demonstrates that playing with interlocking blocks stimulates children’s brains, inspires creativity and enhances cognitive skills. Additionally, these types of toys are especially beneficial for children with special needs and developmental challenges.
What may not be common knowledge is that this type of toy is often beyond the budgets of at-risk families. The recipient of a recent Business Builder Grant found a way to change this by providing inner city children with Legos using his own business.
John Fontana is an entrepreneur and a self-described “kid at heart.” His passion as a young child for LEGOs became his occupation as an adult. His company “Bricks 4 Kidz,” supplies Legos as learning tools to schools, child care facilities, camps, events and wherever kids learn.
John believes that kids today may miss the opportunity to play and create on their own. “Oftentimes kids are immersed in electronic devices and don’t know how to build their own creations and cultivate their creative skills.”
John’s business aims to change this. “Bricks 4 Kidz” helps teachers explain important subjects such as science, technology, engineering, the arts, and math as well as valuable life skills including problem solving, teamwork, and following instructions using LEGOs as the tool.
Recently, “Bricks 4 Kidz” was awarded a grant to expand their field trip outreach program to inner city organizations serving at-risk children. It costs approximately one thousand dollars to equip a traveling kit for school visits. The grant will equip a teacher to visit up to 35 different organizations each week.
John shared, “With this grant, we will be able to provide services to more deserving children in the Bay area. I believe LEGOs teach children more than how to play with a toy or school subjects.
LEGOs teach us that color doesn’t matter, as a red brick or a green brick each function the same way.
LEGOs teach us that size doesn’t matter, as it takes all sizes of Legos to create your own masterpiece.
LEGOs teach us there is strength in numbers, as more LEGO bricks working together makes your foundation stronger.
Finally, LEGOs teach us that it’s okay to start over, even if our creations fall apart, we can always build something bigger and better.
Thanks to Fulfill Your Destiny, more children will get to experience the joy of using their imagination to create and learn.”
