The LEGO Group and local LEGO® Masters alum Build the Change with Boys & Girls Clubs of Metro Richmond

• The LEGO Group partnered with LEGO® Masters television show alum Ben Edlavitch to lead LEGO® building session to empower Boys & Girls Clubs of Metro Richmond Club members to envision a sustainable future through play-based learning.
• Preben Elnef, program lead for the company’s investment in Virginia, USA, and LEGO employee volunteers supported the session, building alongside Northside Club members to showcase their ideas with LEGO bricks.
• The company has partnered with Boys & Girls Clubs of Metro Richmond since announcing local grant funding in November 2023.

VIRGINIA, USA, July 29, 2024: Today, the LEGO Group partnered with LEGO Masters contestant Ben Edlavitch to empower Boys & Girls Clubs of Metro Richmond Northside Club members ages 10-12 years to reimagine their environment through play-based learning and building challenges.

The LEGO Group’s Build the Change program empowers children around the world to build a more sustainable future through play. The workshop includes fun and engaging content and provides children with LEGO® bricks and other creative materials to showcase their ideas. Build the Change aims to help children explore and learn about sustainability, while amplifying their hopes and ideas for a better future. Learn more at: lego.com/buildthechange.

Preben Elnef, VP and Program Lead for LEGO Manufacturing Virginia, said: “It’s energizing to be at Boys & Girls Clubs of Metro Richmond today to inspire and empower kids to create change in their own backyards. Local partnerships and volunteerism are an important way we engage in the community as we continue to build our presence in the Commonwealth of Virginia, an integral part of the LEGO Group’s strategic growth plan to bring LEGO play to millions of kids.”

Lizabeth Sklaroff, Social Responsibility Senior Director for the LEGO Group said: “Learning through Play is at the heart of everything we do at the LEGO Group. Build the Change is our flagship program that empowers children around the world to build a more sustainable future through play. Today, Northside Club members developed critical problem solving and creative thinking skills and we were so impressed by their creations.”

Sean Miller, President & CEO of Boys & Girls Clubs of Metro Richmond said: “We were excited to partner with the LEGO Group through the 'Build the Change' workshop that combined creativity, learning, and youth development. This enriching experience provided a hands-on learning that inspired Club members to explore new possibilities and discover what they are passionate about for their future."

Boys & Girls Clubs of Metro Richmond Northside Club member Logan shows off his "Super Bee" creation with LEGO employee Cecilia Fernandez.

Preben Elnef kicked off the morning with Northside Club members, speaking to the company’s environmental commitments and the importance of sustainability in the design, construction, and operation of its more than US $1 billion factory under construction in nearby Chesterfield County. He explained the importance of programs like Build the Change and how local students provided landscape design ideas for the manufacturing campus unveiled during the April 2023 groundbreaking.

Henrico County-based architecture student and LEGO Masters season four contestant Ben Edlavitch led Club members through the Build the Change challenge, generating a fun group discussion about what sustainability means to them before moving into a creative building session. Ben also shared his personal story about appearing on TV alongside his grandfather David “Poppy” Levine and the impact LEGO play has on his life, including his educational and professional pursuits.

Ben Edlavitch said: “It was great to team up with the LEGO Group to inspire Boys & Girls Clubs of Metro Richmond members to spark their creativity and imagination to change the world. Building with LEGO bricks has unlocked important opportunities for me – from pursuing an architecture degree to competing on LEGO Masters – and I can’t wait to see all the incredible things the next generation creates.”

Preben Elnef, program lead for LEGO Manufacturing Virginia, lends a hand to Northside Club members completing their Build the Change creations.

Today’s workshop demonstrates the LEGO Group’s commitment to Learning through Play for children and families and support for local nonprofit organizations, including Boys & Girls Club of Metro Richmond. The company’s grant helps advance the Club’s Playful Pathways program, a hands-on, skill-based program that empowers youth through fun and engaging activities to inspire a love of learning and self-confidence.

Supporting Learning through Play in the Greater Richmond community
Today’s event is another example of the LEGO Group’s ongoing commitment to community support in the region.

In November 2023, the company announced US $1 million in grant funding for play-based learning at six local nonprofit organizations serving children and families.

In April 2024, the LEGO Group joined Chesterfield County officials to commemorate a large-scale parkland reforestation project to plant more than 1,440 trees across eight county parks.

Continued progress on LEGO Manufacturing Virginia campus
The ongoing community support builds on continued progress with the construction of the company’s more than US $1 billion state-of-the-art manufacturing facility in Chesterfield County, including the February 2024 announcement of Preben Elnef as the permanent program lead and Gray|Hourigan as the general contractor. The LEGO Group expects construction of the factory buildings to begin later this year and full production to commence in 2027.

In November 2023, the company opened its external packing facility, where it employs approximately 250 people. View job openings at legocareersvirginia.com.

The LEGO Group will add over 1,760 jobs over ten years as part of its investment in Virginia.