Quick look: More than 60 volunteers helped transform Simmons Elementary School with colorful ocean-themed murals, refreshed playgrounds, new seating and pickleball courts, giving students new spaces to play and connect.
Simmons Elementary School in Garden Grove is making waves with a colorful new look.
Dolphins leap in front of rainbows, ocean creatures brighten freshly painted handball courts and a tide of other improvements has swept across the campus.
The makeover comes courtesy of Give & Grow, a community service initiative founded by employees of Safran Cabin. More than 60 volunteers from the company, which makes aircraft interiors and equipment, spent Oct. 23 transforming outdoor spaces at the Garden Grove Unified School District campus.
Along with the murals, the improvements include five new benches, refreshed playground and basketball court areas, and two new pickleball courts.
“The students are delighted to play in their new, colorful playgrounds,” said Principal Tanya M. DeLeon. “The entire campus has been transformed with vibrant murals, new playground equipment and seating options. Our community is thankful and energized by this special day of beautification and empowerment.”
Founded by Safran Cabin employees in Southern California in 2007, Give & Grow has completed more than 20 school improvement projects, including previous efforts at Garden Grove Unified’s Excelsior Elementary in 2022, Cook Elementary in 2018 and Murdy Elementary in 2015.
The makeover at Simmons Elementary — home of the Dolphins — was the organization’s second project of 2026, continuing a tradition of employees volunteering their time to improve schools and support local communities.
“Every year, our employees look forward to Give & Grow Day because it gives us the opportunity to make a meaningful difference in the communities where we live and work,” said Nathan Kwok, Safran Cabin executive vice president of sales and marketing and president of Give & Grow.
“We hope these improvements bring joy to students and staff for many years to come.”