Ruppert Landscape recently partnered with ABC2 News - WMAR Baltimore to provide a facelift to the landscape of The Children’s Home in Catonsville, MD, as part of the Built Upon A Dream community service project. Over 100 employees representing five of Ruppert’s local landscape management branches participated in the event.
“The Children’s Home campus is filled with young residents who are going through a challenging time in life. Our goal as a part of this project was to do what we could do to help brighten this campus and the lives of those who live here,” said Phil Key, president of Ruppert Landscape.
The total value of the campus renovation with time and materials was approximately $16,000. Upon completion, there were over 200 man-hours invested. Teams from Ruppert’s Baltimore, Laytonsville, Forestville, Frederick and D.C. landscape management branches planted nearly 500 perennials and 85 shrubs in existing plant beds around the entrance of the six cottages and at the site entrance. New plant species were selected to add color and to ensure they’d come back year after year and require little upkeep for the maintenance staff at The Children’s Home.
“We enjoy hands-on projects such as this because we feel it gives our team members a greater connection to what’s being donated,” Key said. “Ultimately, we want our team to feel great about the work they’ve performed at The Children’s Home, but also be able to connect that feeling, and our ability to donate to great causes like this, to the work they perform on a daily basis.” The company gives 5% of its profit annually to charitable causes.
The Children’s Home campus renovation also included the maintenance of existing plant beds, light tree pruning, removal of three dead trees in the courtyard, and mowing of 7 acres on the grounds surrounding the cottages and pavilion. In addition to site improvements, teams competed in a number of contests throughout the day, including a clean truck contest, mowing Olympics, tool inventory, efficiency and quality audit, and more. The intent was for team members to experience camaraderie, fun and learning all while giving back to the community.
About Built Upon A Dream: Modeled in the spirit of the ABC Network’s “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition” program, Built Upon a Dream features builders, contractors, architects, suppliers and others who come together to help a non-profit organization in need. For more information, visit www.abc2news.com/dream.
About The Children’s Home: Established in 1863, The Children’s Home of Catonsville, MD has a long-standing history and commitment of serving children ages 13 through 21 in residential care. The Children’s Home provides care in a safe, home-like living environment and its campus provides a suburban setting where children can feel secure, nurtured and have a sense of belonging. The facility serves children from throughout the state of Maryland who are victims of abuse, neglect, family breakdown or are in need of supervised care. While at the home, children who have suffered emotionally or physically are given the care normally imparted by parents or families that is needed to heal, rebuild their self-esteem and grow into healthy, productive young adults. For more information, visit www.thechildrenshome.net.
About Ruppert Landscape: Ruppert Landscape, a family and employee-owned business, provides commercial landscape construction and management with 19 branches serving eight primary markets in Philadelphia, Baltimore, Washington D.C., Richmond, Raleigh, Charlotte, Atlanta and Houston. The company has a long-standing tradition of growing its team and giving back to the community. Visit www.ruppertlandscape.com.
