On Thursday, November 30, the LEGO Group announced $1 million in grant funding to six local nonprofit organizations – including SOAR365 – that serve children and families across the Greater Richmond region.

These awards are the result of a commitment made at the groundbreaking for the company’s new state-of-the-art manufacturing site in Chesterfield County and will help create and expand vital programming and initiatives to help kids from diverse backgrounds and abilities learn through play.

For SOAR365, the LEGO funding is directed to Pediatric Therapy. SOAR365 President & CEO John Walker said: “The LEGO Group’s investment in SOAR6365’s Pediatric Therapy program is a transformational gift that will allow hundreds of children with disabilities to receive Early Intervention and Outpatient Therapy services. Accessible, high-quality therapy services have a dramatic impact on the trajectory of a child’s life. We look forward to partnering with the LEGO Group to address this underserved community need and to make a positive difference in the lives of children and their families – together!”  

Carsten Rasmussen, Chief Operations Officer for the LEGO Group said: “Today we are pleased to extend our support for the greater Richmond community. This new factory is a strategic addition to our global supply network that sets us up for long-term growth. Playing a meaningful role in the communities in which we operate and call home is an integral part of this strategy.”

Lizabeth Sklaroff, Social Responsibility Director for the LEGO Group said: “At the LEGO Group, children are our role models, and we express that not only through LEGO® play, but also through our work in local communities. We know that play is essential to children’s development of holistic skills, such as critical thinking, imagination, and problem solving, that enable them to thrive in a fast-paced world – today and in the future. We are so pleased to announce our latest round of grant funding for these important local organizations that will deliver play-based programming to support kids across the greater Richmond area. We look forward to further bolstering these exciting new partnerships with the skills and expertise of our passionate LEGO volunteers in the coming months and years.”

The company announced the following grants:

• Blue Sky Fund – Grant supports STEM-based outdoor education and play-based opportunities for Richmond public school students through the organization’s Explorers program.
• Boys & Girls Clubs of Metro Richmond – Funding to advance Playful Pathways, a hands-on, skill-based program that empowers underserved youth through fun and engaging activities to inspire a love of learning and self confidence.
• James River Association – Award increases access to immersive, hands-on outdoor education and play-based learning, bolsters organizational capacity to extend programming through new formats.
• Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden – Grant expands organizational capacity for youth and family engagement programs to reach early learners with playful learning experiences and increases access for more children from under resourced communities to participate in the summer camp program.
• SOAR365 – Grant furthers pediatric therapy program offering early intervention and outpatient therapy that incorporates play, literacy, and assistive technology to help children reach their potential.
• YMCA of Greater Richmond – Funding supports Power Scholars Academy, an enrichment program that reaches at-risk students, combining academic enrichment, playful experiences, mentorship, and family engagement.

Facts about the LEGO Group

LEGO Manufacturing Richmond

• Investment: $1 billion
• Location: Chesterfield County, near Richmond, VA.
• Jobs: 1,760 positions over 10 years; recruitment ongoing for nearby external packing facility. For a full list of jobs, visit: www.LEGO.com
• Buildings: 13 buildings that will span over 1.7 million sq. ft. ranging from office spaces, molding, processing, packing buildings, and a warehouse.

Sustainability

• Carbon-neutral run: When completed, the LEGO factory aims to be carbon-neutral run, which means it can demonstrate net-zero emissions from electricity and fuel use (scope 1 and 2) using on-site or off-site renewable energy.
• Solar plant on-site: 35,000-40,000 ground panels, 15,000-20,000 roof panels, 30-35 MW in total capacity.
• Zero waste to landfill: The new factory shares the same ambition as all LEGO operations of achieving zero waste from factories to landfill.
• Certification: The aim is to secure Gold LEED certification (Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design) for the building once it is completed including energy, water and waste.

The LEGO Group in the USA

• The LEGO Group has had a presence in the USA since its American entity, LEGO Systems Inc., was established in 1973 over 50 years ago.
• Americas Headquarters in Enfield, CT since 1975. Moving to Boston, MA in 2026.
• The LEGO Group employs more than 3,000 people in the USA.
• The company operates over 100 LEGO stores across the USA, including four stores in the Commonwealth of Virginia and a flagship store on 5th Ave, New York City.