New Milford, CT. April 23, 2012—In celebration of Earth Day, YardScapes’ team of volunteers revitalized the green-spaces of two area non-profit organizations and one area homeowner.
“We received great submissions from our area nonprofits and homeowners,” YardScapes founder Shayne Newman said in a statement, regarding his firm’s Day of Service contest. Contest winners of the need-based initiative were determined and vetted by Mr. Newman and his staff.
YardScapes staff voted to renew and revitalize the landscape at the Abbey of Regina Laudis in Bethlehem, CT. YardScapes’ volunteers at the Abbey included Bruce Brown, Keats Gill, Jamie Goble, Alfredo Hernandez, Florentino Hernandez, Greg Malmberg, Isauro Perez, Walter Singer and Matt Williams.
Also on site to lend a hand were Mr. Newman’s Brookfield BNI peers Bob Gilchrist, Doug Igoe, James Philapakos and Darren Trim. Additionally, Peter Montgomery of Montgomery Gardens volunteered at the Abbey of Regina Laudis.
“We set out to pick one area nonprofit and one area homeowner. This proved challenging as many of the submissions were sound. The Children’s Center in New Milford, CT. also demonstrated the need for green-space renewal. We had the volunteers, so we thought, why not?”
The Children’s Center green-spaces were renewed by YardScapes’ volunteers Roberto Angulo—along with sons Derrick and David—Angel Ortiz Gavilanes, Michael Herrick, and lastly, Ava Newman.
Mr. Newman’s Brookfield BNI peers volunteered at this site as well: Maureen Arnold, Helen Curtin, Jon Dupree, Dipak Gosh, Kirsten Ursem—along with her children Casper, Merije, and Maud—and Michele Varno.
“Unlike our nonprofits that are sustained by community outreach and public and private donations, our homeowner, as she’s not a public entity, will not be named. I wanted to be sensitive to that,” said Mr. Newman. Volunteers at her site included YardScapes’ Ramiro Parra, Manny Parra, Armando Jiminez, Tom Tuminelli, Jr. and Greg Kaiser.
Mr. Newman and green industry peer Chris Heiler made the rounds volunteering at each site throughout day. “The process of choosing the winning projects and then creating a strategy for carrying out each is overwhelming. We strive to do our best always. At the end of the day, however, we couldn’t have been more proud, or felt more fulfilled. We sincerely enjoyed a day working together with the common goal of making a difference in our community. Green-spaces were renewed, as was our belief in volunteerism and community outreach.”
The three projects were part of a nationwide “Day of Service” initiated by national Professional Landcare Network lawn and landscape association PLANET, with the goal of giving its 3,500 member companies an opportunity to plan, organize, and carry out projects to benefit their local communities.
A PLANET member and Landcare Network Public Relations Committee Chairperson, Mr. Newman is a recognized leader in community service contributions throughout the year. The YardScapes founder became a “Day of Service” charter participant with the central mission of “demonstrating goodwill and environmental stewardship in revitalizing the places where people live, work, and play.”
