The Giant Wooden Slide is a source  of priceless intergenerational memories and represents how Smith is essential to the families of Philadelphia and beyond.  Since 1899, Smith has been a free, safe space for play. Children of all different backgrounds come together to play and grow into strong, confident individuals despite personal circumstances or societal challenges.  Almost anyone raised in Philadelphia has memories of the “giant slide” at Smith. The unique, wooden sliding board is 12-feet wide and 60 feet long, and of course, is waxed and polished for optimum slide speed.

What happens at the Slide-A-Thon?

At the Slide-A-Thon, registered teams will have private and exclusive access to the Slide for an assigned period of time.  Each group will participate in a challenge to achieve the most slides of any team during their time block as well as a costume contest! All participants will receive a complimentary sliding sack to decorate and bring home, courtesy of La Colombe Coffee Roasters.

How does the Slide-A-Thon raise money for Smith?

Registration is $25 per individual and teams can have up to 20 participants, welcoming both adults and children. Each team member is also encouraged to create a peer to peer fundraiser leading up to the event.

How do I register a group to participate as one Slide-A-Thon team?

If you are coordinating a corporate, school, non-profit or other group, you may register in one of the following ways:

• Select one of our pre-set Team sizes. Only one attendee name is required to complete registration. Remaining names may be added later.
• Select the “Grow a Team (One Group Attendee)” option and purchase the amount of currently or likely confirmed attendees. Additional team members may be added by purchasing additional “Grow a Team (One Group Attendee)” tickets in the future and entering the same Team Name that you used for your first purchase.

How do I register as an individual?

If you are an individual interested in attending the Slide-A-Thon and are not part of an existing team, please select the “Individual (assign me to a team)” ticket option on this page and Smith staff will assign you to a team of other attendees not associated with a pre-existing group.

If you are an individual that would like to join a group that is already registered, please select the “Individual (join a team!)” ticket option and enter the team name in the appropriate field. Please be sure to type the exact name of the team that the group used to sign up.

Can I still support the Slide-A-Thon if I’m not able to attend?

Yes! You may make a donation of any size to support this event by selecting the “Donation (non-attendees)” ticket option. In addition, Smith offers a variety of sponsorship opportunities. Learn more!

What do proceeds from the Slide-A-Thon support?

The Slide-A-Thon will raise funds to help support Smith’s work, which includes welcoming nearly 200,000 visitors annually for free visits (families come from every zip code in the City!). Smith also provides educational and advocacy programs that use the power of play to help children, families, and communities thrive, with a special focus on providing accessible play opportunities for underserved communities and helping children develop pre-literacy skills.

How will Smith keep visitor safe from the spread of COVID-19?

Smith staff will adhere to the latest CDC guidelines for cleanliness and social distancing, including having no more than 25 people on the Playground at one time, providing personal coffee sacks for each slider, and sanitizing the Giant Wooden Slide after each team’s time slot.

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Still have questions? Contact Cheryl Carson, Senior Director of Development at cheryl@smithplayground.org or 215-765-4325 x104.