First Mover
To inspire a balance between productivity and play - that’s the mission of the Play Full Society. The impact of play on the human psyche has been the focus of institutes, museums, books, and therapeutic practices all around the world. For me personally, play has been my language of love. I’ve expressed it in the corporate arena, in classrooms, and in ballrooms for thousands of people. I’m innately playful, and I’m committed to being contagious enough to infect you next.
The Play Full Society invites its members to join a community driven by creativity, spontaneity, joy, connection - all the gifts that come from play. Our physical space will be open for drop in games (puzzles, cards, tabletop games, backgammon, chess, mahjong, etc!), and nightly for organized classes and events.
The Play Full Society is like a maker’s lab for ways to have fun with others. We nurture the idea of having interest and passion for play, knowing how play nourishes the human psyche. Countless articles & professional journals about the value of play, posit that it’s directly correlated to better personal productivity, improved resilience, an increase in collective good vibes, a decrease in anxiety, and a boost in all around mojo!
Data on loneliness specifically drives my confidence to invest in this business. But more than those startling numbers serve as a reminder of what too much screen time and the pandemic have cost our society, they are a call to action for entrepreneurs like myself to solve for the problem of disenfranchisement and disconnection, We’ll offer programing for Gen Z’s and X’ers alike, believing in the beauty of intergenerational exchange when bound by a common love of play. Each month, our members will receive newsletters that highlight new games from other cultures, to reinforce our commitment to grow a common vocabulary around what play means in different parts of the world. We’ll be developing ambassador programs, to embolden the leaders who emerge organically, because they have already been hosting playful events by their own volition.
The Play Full Society is informed by trusted partnerships, staying curious, and a joyful sense of the society’s mission. Thank you for your curiosity and your desire to just play. I can’t wait to meet you.
Join us as a founding member. Review our investment deck to be the game master behind all of this.
warmly, with a wink as a hint about your next move,
Deborah Pardes
Founder & Chief Experience Officer
Here’s a moment (scroll to minute 37:00) in a recent interview where I talk about my vision for the Play Full Society.
Short BIO:
Deborah Pardes is a visionary executive, storyteller, and founder of Play Full Society, a new membership-based club reimagining how adults connect—through play, creativity, and authentic human interaction. With decades of leadership in content, community, and culture, she has shaped transformative experiences across media, education, and technology. Previously, as VP of Stories & Voices at Swell, Deborah championed accessibility in podcasting and helped thousands of creators find their voice. Her earlier work includes founding Artists for Literacy, a national arts and education movement recognized by The New York Times, Rolling Stone, and NPR. A Barnard College alum and lifelong creator, Deborah continues to build spaces and stories that inspire joy, empathy, and connection.