Mud-caked boots slowed the steps but didn’t hinder the enthusiasm of an army of Pi Kappa Phi fraternity brothers who arrived early one Saturday morning in November to “Rise” a playground for the children of Starpoint School and The Rise School, a national preschool program for children with Down Syndrome that opened a school at TCU last fall.

Funded primarily by the Kimbell Art Foundation, two brightly-colored jungle gyms — complete with slides, tunnels and climbing structures — now grace the backyard of Starpoint School.

“My own brothers and sisters don’t tackle me with joy when I come into a room,” said Pi Kap Josh Gardner, explaining his motivation as one of the project’s coordinators. “These kids do.”