On Wednesday, June 24, 2026, our playground at 64 Palmers Hill in Stamford transformed into a Field Day wonderland, and we couldn’t have pulled it off without the incredible volunteers from Franklin Templeton.
For 180 preschoolers across nine classrooms, Field Day is one of the highlights of the year. This year’s event featured 10 activity stations, each one staffed and supported by Franklin Templeton team members who showed up ready to run, cheer, paint, and play right alongside our kids.
Before a single child stepped outside, an early-arrival crew of Franklin Templeton volunteers was already hard at work. Starting at 7:45 AM, this dedicated group helped our education coordinators haul equipment and materials from inside the building out to the playground, obstacle course pieces, the parachute, paint supplies, bean bag targets, and everything needed for the mural wall along the fence. It’s not the most glamorous job, but it’s the one that makes everything else possible.
Shortly after, the rest of the volunteer group arrived for a quick orientation before settling into their stations, ready for the day ahead.
Let the Games Begin
At 9:45 AM, Field Day officially kicked off, and our classrooms began rotating through a lineup of stations designed for maximum fun (and a little bit of joyful chaos):
- Obstacle Course — spotting little climbers and keeping the line moving
- Spray Paint Mural — smocks on, brushes ready, masterpieces in progress
- T-Ball — steady hands at the tee and quick feet in the field
- Face Painting — turning cheeks into butterflies, tigers, and rainbows
- Parachute Games — a perimeter of grown-ups keeping the rainbow canopy rising and falling
- Egg and Spoon Race — equal parts concentration and giggles
- Bean Bag Toss, Horseshoe Toss, Sidewalk Chalk, and our Hydration Station rounded out the morning, giving children plenty of ways to move, create, and cool off in between
Behind the scenes, a team of floaters kept everything running smoothly — escorting bathroom trips, refilling water, snapping photos, and giving station volunteers a well-earned breather. By the time cleanup rolled around at 11:45 AM, the playground was full of tired smiles, chalk-dusted sidewalks, and a fence-length mural bursting with color.
Our Heartfelt Thanks
None of this happens without generous partners like Franklin Templeton. Year after year, this team shows up not just with enthusiasm, but with genuine care for our children — cheering on every obstacle course finish, every T-ball swing, and every proud presentation of a freshly painted masterpiece. A special thank you to Anna Witkowski, our Director of Child Development, along with Yasmin Polonia and Lisa Perrellis, who coordinated every detail of the day to make sure our Franklin Templeton volunteers had everything they needed to jump right in. To the entire Franklin Templeton team: thank you for giving your time, your energy, and your hearts to our children. Days like this remind us why community partnerships matter so much and we’re already looking forward to next year.
Children’s Learning Centers of Fairfield County is grateful for community partners like Franklin Templeton who invest their time and talent in the youngest members of our Stamford community.