At Traverse City Web Design, we believe websites should amplify missions that matter. One of our most meaningful partnerships has been with Carter’s Kids, a national charity dedicated to building vibrant, inclusive playgrounds for children across the United States.
Founded by television personality and carpenter Carter Oosterhouse and actress Amy Smart, Carter’s Kids blends celebrity visibility with hands-on community impact.
Carter first became a household name through home improvement television—most notably as a carpenter on Trading Spaces. His career has long centered around building, design, and environmental awareness. Amy Smart, widely known for her roles in films like The Butterfly Effect and Just Friends, brings not only star power but a deep commitment to wellness and family advocacy.
But here’s the important thing: this isn’t a vanity project.
Carter’s Kids is rooted in the belief that every child deserves a safe, joyful place to play. The organization works with local communities, volunteers, sponsors, and children themselves to build playgrounds that foster physical activity, creativity, and connection. These spaces become more than playgrounds—they become anchors for neighborhoods.
There’s something powerful about celebrities choosing to leverage their public platforms for practical, tangible change. Fame can evaporate in trends—or it can be invested. In this case, it’s invested in lumber, slides, climbing walls, and the laughter of kids who might not otherwise have access to quality recreational spaces.
Building a Digital Home for a National Mission
When Carter’s Kids partnered with Traverse City Web Design to build and manage Carters-Kids.org, the goal was clear: create a digital space that reflects the energy and heart of their work.
We designed a responsive, visually engaging website that:
- Highlights completed playground projects across the country
- Shares the mission clearly and accessibly
- Makes it easy for donors, sponsors, and volunteers to get involved
- Supports ongoing storytelling through updates and photography
Because this is a national charity with public visibility, performance and reliability matter. We continue to manage and maintain the site, ensuring security, updates, and smooth operation—so the Carter’s Kids team can stay focused on building playgrounds rather than troubleshooting plugins.
Why This Project Matters
Every website tells a story. Some sell products. Some book appointments. Some build brands. This one builds playgrounds.
Helping Carter Oosterhouse and Amy Smart translate their celebrity influence into measurable community impact is the kind of work that reminds us why digital infrastructure matters. A website isn’t just code—it’s a bridge between inspiration and action.
And when that action results in children running, climbing, laughing, and imagining new worlds on a playground that didn’t exist before? That’s the kind of ripple effect worth building for.
You can learn more about their mission and see the playground projects at Carters-Kids.org.
