Welcome to the December issue of the Project EverGreen Update. The organization is creating news on a variety of fronts and we’d like to share it all with you, our biggest supporters!
Read more about our latest news and events below. Thank you for your support!
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Cub Cadet, a global leader in premium-quality outdoor power equipment, announced today the launch of a new Facebook campaign to support Project EverGreen’s GreenCare for Troops program, a national outreach initiative that helps hundreds of volunteers provide free lawn and landscaping services for military families while their loved ones are serving overseas.
Cub Cadet will donate $1 to GreenCare for Troops for every new fan who “likes” the Cub Cadet Facebook page, with the goal of raising $25,000.
Since its inception in 2006, Cub Cadet has helped GreenCare for Troops serve more than 10,000 military families as the initiative’s sole underwriter.
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Cub Cadet Facebook fans can also register to win a special GCFT Dirt Shirt. Created by the Discovery Channel’s Dirty Jobs host, Mike Rowe, the Dirt Shirt lists Rowe’s top 10 reasons to support the GreenCare for Troops initiative. For example, #10: “Coming home to an overgrown jungle is just not cool.” New winners will be announced weekly throughout the campaign.
To donate $1 to GreenCare for Troops, “like” Cub Cadet’s Facebook page at www.facebook.com/cubcadet. Also, don’t forget to “like” Project EverGreen’s Facebook page at www.facebook.com/projectevergreen.
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The Imaginarium had already established plans to create a Backyard Nature exhibit in Southwest Florida’s only science center, and they needed some additional support to get the project off the ground. Beginning in the first quarter of 2012, Project EverGreen volunteers will descend upon the Imaginarium to assist with the site layout and exhibit build-out efforts so that generations to come may learn more about responsible and realistic growth and irrigation practices that they can implement in their own communities.
In addition to the partners that have already signed on to help, Project EverGreen is looking for more volunteers, materials and contributions. Whether you have a few hours to donate to help with site planning or exhibit planting efforts, or you’d like to make a monetary or in-kind donation to offset the hard costs associated with the exhibit, every little bit helps.
For more details on the progress of the Project EverGreen exhibit at the Imaginarium, or to learn more about how you can get involved, please visit http://projectevergreen.com/ftmyers.
The GIE+EXPO show in Louisville, Ky., was a busy time for a lot of Project EverGreen initiatives. Our SnowCare for Troops underwriter, BOSS Snowplow, held an appreciation event for its SnowCare for Troops volunteers and fans who attended the GIE+EXPO. On Oct. 27, an evening of food, fun and great prizes for attendees was held at Drake’s St. Matthews, a restaurant and bar in Louisville. Thanks to everyone who made it out for the festivities.
The fan appreciation event was held as volunteers of the second-year program were gearing up to provide snow care for families with a member currently serving in our country’s military abroad. Total Landscape Care spoke with Project EverGreen Executive Director, Cindy Code, about the program in the magazine’s October issue. Click here to read the story.
In addition to all of this, Project EverGreen also sponsored a reception during the show for the landscape industry.
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Joy Westenberg, GreenCare for Troops program manager, recently spent some time at Veterans Farm in Jacksonville, Fla. It’s quite the place for veterans who have done so much to protect our country.
As Joy found out, Veterans Farm was established by Sgt. Adam Burke to provide a place for our returning veterans from the Middle East and for veterans from past wars to work in the great outdoors. There are several benefits for these veterans visiting the farm: They learn to farm to help feed their own families, and they feel they have a purpose in their lives after combat - which can be a difficult transition. The farm also acts as a sanctuary for inner healing and peace.
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Sgt. Burke has started building planting boxes so that each veteran can have their own area to plant whatever they need. The public may sponsor a blueberry tree with proceeds going back to the farm. An engraved military dog tag will hang from each blueberry tree in memory of a fallen soldier or as a thank you to a veteran who has served our country.
Visit www.veteransfarm.com to learn more.
Headquartered in New Prague, Minn., Project EverGreen is a national non-profit organization representing green industry service (end-user) providers, associations, suppliers/distributors, media companies and other organizations. Project EverGreen’s mission is “To preserve and enhance green space in our communities for today and future generations.”
In late 2004, Project EverGreen launched a national media campaign to inform U.S. consumers about the positive effects of well-maintained green spaces, including lawns and landscapes, sports turf, golf courses and parks. Please go to www.projectevergreen.com for more information.