Project Playhouse’s “Reveal Day” at Bryant is one of the happiest days of the year for the children with life-threatening illnesses who are surprised with custom-built playhouses created by local vocational high schools. But their excitement might be matched by the students and educators involved in the project.
“I love it, I love it, I love it!” exclaimed Liam Villacis, 6, as he played in his new, Roblox-inspired playhouse, designed and built by students at Southeastern Regional Vocational Technical High School and fitted out with a climbing wall, water slide, and bunk bed.
“Every day after school and on the weekends, he wants to go to the park,” said Liam’s father, Remmy. “He likes rock climbing. He likes to climb on the slide. So, this is like bringing the park to our backyard.”
Coordinated by members of the Bryant Management Association, Project Playhouse is now in its 10th year. Over the course of a decade, 33 playhouses have been built. Bryant students act as the project coordinators, interfacing with the nonprofits, vocational schools, and recipients, as well as organizing on-campus support for Reveal Day.
The playhouses, which typically take more than six months to complete, arrive on the Bryant campus a few days or weeks prior to the “reveal,” but it’s the moment when the children first lay eyes on their new playhouses that everyone waits for.
“I bring tissues,” said Rob Massoud, a lecturer in Bryant’s Management department and faculty advisor for the Bryant Management Association. “It’s probably the most emotional thing that happens on campus short of graduation.”
Jennifer Chen ’26, a dual Finance and Marketing major, has been involved in Project Playhouse the past three years and, this year, served as the lead project coordinator. “Seeing the kids' faces and seeing them how excited they are, that's what this whole day is about,” she said.
A vocational supervisor at Southeastern Regional Vocational Technical High School, Jarrod Lussier said he draws big circles around Reveal Day on his calendar. “It’s my favorite day of the year,” he said. “I’m so glad we got involved with Bryant, and we'll keep doing this as long as they'll have us.”
For 2026, Project Playhouse gifted three playhouses. In addition to Liam’s brick house built by students at Southeastern Regional Vocational Technical High School in Easton, Massachusetts, students from Blue Hills Regional Vocational Technical High School in Canton, Massachusetts, created a Sesame Street themed playhouse for Dylan Medeiros, 7, while those from the Career & Technical Education Program at Silver Lake Regional High School in Kingston, Massachusetts, constructed a playhouse in the shape of a helicopter for Bailey Brazao, 4 — each drawing inspiration from the wishes of the recipients.
“Partnering with Bryant on this project is so powerful,” said Mary-Kate O’Leary, executive director of A Wish Come True, one of the two Rhode Island based nonprofits (along with The Tomorrow Fund) that partnered with Bryant on Project Playhouse and support families with children struggling with a life-threatening illness. “It gives the kiddos hope. They've gone through treatment for whatever illness that they have, so they’ve had to grow up really fast. But when you see them smiling and having fun here, it’s like you’re giving them the opportunity to be a kid again.”
“Partnering with Bryant on this project is so powerful. It gives the kiddos hope. They've gone through treatment for whatever illness that they have, so they’ve had to grow up really fast. But when you see them smiling and having fun here, it’s like you’re giving them the opportunity to be a kid again.”
Lussier noted that the hard work put in by his students reflected their enthusiasm. “There were kids that, if they had a study hall or lunch, would come down and work on the playhouse. It’s a project they love,” he said.
“I’m really proud of our class,” said Anthony Silva, a sophomore at Blue Hills who helped build the Sesame Street playhouse. “We really pulled this together, and it's honestly exciting that we get to present it to the kids.”
In addition to the gratification of doing something good for a child, Bryant students earned valuable project management experience by facilitating Project Playhouse.
“Our students do not build the houses. They don't design them. What they do is facilitate communications and coordination,” said Massoud. "When they are able to delegate the work and watch it all come together, it’s a really good feeling.”
“Multitasking is something that everyone needs to be able to do, and working in groups is something that you’re going to have to do when you're in the workforce,” added Chen.
Bryant University President Ross Gittell, Ph.D., said Project Playhouse “is a really great opportunity for both the high school students and our students, and it produces something physical and meaningful.”
Kelly Bolton, director of operations for A Wish Come True, said the playhouses have an enduring impact that goes well beyond Reveal Day. Over the course of the last 10 years, many playhouses have been passed down from one sibling to another, she said, and some have even been regifted to other children.
“The families get something that they can appreciate and live with for years and years,” Bolton said.