Kevin Shaunty Gives Back to Military Families Through GreenCare for Troops

Kevin Shaunty, founder and owner of Shaunty’s Lawn and Landscape on the Kansas side of suburban Kansas City, has been a GreenCare for Troops and SnowCare for Troops volunteering for more than a decade, helping 30 military families during that time.

“I think the program managers contacted me, if I remember correctly, and being a veteran myself, I thought it would be a great way to give back to the military community here in Kansas,” says Shaunty.

Shaunty’s own military experience began in 1988 when he joined the U.S. Navy and was stationed in Newport News, Virginia, shortly before the commissioning of the USS Abraham Lincoln. When the ship was commissioned, he was among the crew members who sailed it around South America to its home port in Alameda, California.

He then completed two tours in the Middle East during Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm before returning home in 1993.

As a civilian, Kevin Shaunty worked for the state of Kansas and later for the city of Overland Park, performing bridge inspections and working in road construction. Then opportunity came knocking.

“I knew a guy who owned quite a few fast-food restaurants in the area, and he was looking for a landscape maintenance company,” says Shaunty. “I talked it over with my wife, and we decided to take the leap. That’s how we started in 2007, and we’ve been in business ever since.”

Today, Shaunty’s is a full-service lawn and landscape company providing everything from lawn maintenance to landscape design, construction and installation for residential and commercial clients. Despite its growth, the company has remained local, serving customers from a single central office.

Going All In for Military Families

GreenCare for Troops and SnowCare for Troops families are placed on the schedule alongside Shaunty’s other clients, but crews are always notified when they will be providing service to a military family.

“When the crew is on site with a military family, they know that if there’s some small stuff around the house that we notice needs to be done, we’ll take care of that for them, too,” says Shaunty. “All our crews seem to enjoy helping these families.”

Families often share their gratitude through cards, letters and the occasional gift basket. One deployed service member even called the office every couple of weeks to check on how things were going back home.

Kevin Shaunty appreciates the acknowledgment, but for him, volunteering is ultimately about providing a valuable service during what can be a challenging time for military families.

“For the person that’s being deployed away from their family, they’ve got a million things to deal with,” says Shaunty. “I just think that taking something off their plate, like lawn care, so they don’t have to worry about it is really a valuable service we can provide.”

After more than a decade of volunteering, Kevin Shaunty’s commitment reflects what GreenCare for Troops is all about: green industry professionals using their skills and resources to make life a little easier for military families when they need it most.

Join the Mission – Become a Volunteer Today!

Deployed families need support now. Step up with GreenCare for Troops and put your expertise to work.

The need is rising and every new volunteer means one less worry for a military family at home. GreenCare for Troops connects lawn and landscape professionals with families to provide essential services during deployment. If you’ve ever thought about giving back, this is the moment.

Put your skills to work
Support a family in your community
Make an immediate, meaningful impact

Join a nationwide network of professionals stepping up when it matters most. Volunteer today. A military family near you is waiting.

Sign up today

Thank You to Our Generous Supporters

The Title Sponsor of the GreenCare for Troops program is Nufarm, while BOSS Snowplow proudly sponsors SnowCare for Troops.

Our Platinum Partners include Toro, SiteOne Landscape Supply, and Heritage Landscape Supply.

The Silver Partner is Arborjet/Ecologel and our Affiliate Partners include the Connecticut Grounds Keepers Association and the Florida Nursery, Growers and Landscape Association.

GreenCare for Troops is proudly endorsed by the National Association of Landscape Professionals.

Join us today and be part of something bigger.

Leading the Next Chapter: Beth Berry on the Future of Project EverGreen

Leading the Next Chapter: A Conversation with Project EverGreen Board President Beth Berry

Project EverGreen is entering an exciting new chapter, one built on more than two decades of serving military families, revitalizing community green spaces, and bringing the green industry together around a shared purpose.

As the organization continues to expand its impact, including assuming leadership of Renewal & Remembrance at Arlington National Cemetery beginning in 2027, strong leadership has never been more important.

Beth Berry, vice president of turf and ornamental at Advanced Turf Solutions and president of Project EverGreen’s Board of Directors, has been an active supporter of the organization for several years. In this conversation, she shares her vision for the future, why volunteer service continues to inspire her, and how the green industry can build on its legacy of giving back.

Q: What is your top priority as Project EverGreen Board President?

A: We are incredibly honored to have been entrusted with leading Renewal & Remembrance into the future of our industry.

My top priority is making sure this is a seamless transition for our volunteers, our sponsors, and, most importantly, the families of our nation’s heroes as we help beautify the hallowed grounds of Arlington National Cemetery. That means successfully leading Renewal & Remembrance into its next chapter beginning in 2027 while continuing to grow the mission of GreenCare for Troops.

Renewal & Remembrance - Project EverGreen

Project EverGreen Board President Beth Berry is committed to leading Renewal & Remembrance into its next chapter while honoring its proud tradition of volunteer service at Arlington National Cemetery.

To be trusted to work alongside Arlington National Cemetery’s full-time grounds crew is a responsibility we do not take lightly. Ensuring this event continues to showcase our industry’s commitment to excellence and service is essential to the long-term success and sustainability of this remarkable tradition.

Q: What makes Project EverGreen’s volunteer model unique?

A: Project EverGreen mobilizes an entire industry to action.

Our volunteers are lawn care and landscape professionals who show up with their own equipment, their own expertise, and their own time. That hands-on, boots-on-the-ground approach creates a direct connection between the people doing the work and the families and communities receiving it. It’s personal in a way that’s hard to replicate.

Every time I see or read about one of our volunteers serving a deployed military family, I’m reminded there is an opportunity cost for that business owner. That’s one more lawn they aren’t servicing, one more customer they aren’t billing. We never lose sight of that sacrifice, and we deeply appreciate the selfless spirit these companies demonstrate while serving military families.

The same is true for GreenCare for Communities. Our volunteers and donors have transformed neglected parks, athletic fields, and public green spaces into healthy, vibrant places where communities can gather, play, and thrive.

Q: Where do you see the greatest opportunity for Project EverGreen to expand its impact?

A: I’m most focused on reaching more military families through GreenCare for Troops.

We’ve been serving deployed service members and their families for more than 20 years, and the need hasn’t gone away. If anything, it’s grown. Every family we can take one responsibility off the shoulders of is a family that gains a little more peace of mind while their loved one is deployed.

One of my favorite comments we hear from deployed service members is, ‘It’s one less thing I have to worry about while I’m away from my home and family.’ That’s why, in addition to creating a healthier lawn and yard for the family, is exactly why we do this.

Q: How does Project EverGreen strengthen the green industry?

A: Every time our industry shows up for a military family or a GreenCare for Communities project, it reminds people what this industry truly represents. We are skilled professionals, generous neighbors, and dedicated community partners.

That visibility matters. It helps attract the next generation into the profession while changing perceptions about careers in the lawn and landscape industry. We’re demonstrating that this industry doesn’t just create beautiful landscapes, it makes a meaningful difference in people’s lives.

Q: Why is the Clean Air Calculator such an important tool?

A: For a long time, our industry’s impact was something people could see but not always measure.

The Clean Air Calculator changes that. It gives us real, measurable data that quantifies the environmental value of the green spaces our volunteers and partners create and maintain. In many ways, it allows our industry to go on offense by demonstrating the positive environmental benefits we deliver every day.

That matters because donors, sponsors, and communities increasingly want measurable results, not just good intentions. The Clean Air Calculator allows us to provide both.

Q: What role do volunteers, partners, and industry leaders play in Project EverGreen’s future?

A: None of this happens without our volunteers and sponsor and donor partners. They are the momentum behind everything we accomplish.

As we enter this next chapter, I’d encourage every company and every professional in our industry to ask how they can be part of it, whether that’s volunteering through GreenCare for Troops, supporting Renewal & Remembrance, participating in a GreenCare for Communities project, or simply helping spread the word.

This mission has always been bigger than any one organization.

One thing I know for certain is that the green industry fiercely supports and serves one another. Of the thousands of friends and colleagues I’ve met throughout my career, very few originally set out to build a career in lawn and landscape. Yet here we all are. This industry has a way of drawing people in, and once you’re here, it’s the people who make you stay. Your customers. Your employees. Your industry friends.

If I’m successful as Board President, Project EverGreen will dramatically expand the number of volunteers, partners, and supporters helping us maximize our impact.

Buckle up. The best is yet to come.

Get Involved with Project EverGreen

To learn more about Project EverGreen’s initiatives and how you can get involved, visit https://projectevergreen.org/

A Little Help When It Was Needed Most

A little help can make a big difference for a military family facing deployment. For Katelyn and her husband, Ryan, a member of the National Guard (last name withheld by request), that help came as they were raising two young children in the Des Moines suburb of Waukee.

Their introduction to military life was anything but gradual. Ryan joined the Guard shortly before the birth of their first child and, not long afterward, began preparing for his first deployment.

“We had absolutely no military background whatsoever, so everything was a new experience,” says Katelyn. “There were so many logistical things we needed to figure out, starting with how to manage the pets, the kids, and the maintenance of the house. It was pretty overwhelming.”

As the deployment approached, Katelyn reached out to a friend and fellow military spouse for advice.

“She told me she had signed up for GreenCare for Troops during her husband’s deployment and was matched with a volunteer who mowed her lawn at no cost,” Katelyn recalls. “She said it was an amazing program, really easy to sign up for, and having one less thing to worry about made such a difference.”

Katelyn contacted GreenCare for Troops and was soon matched with a local volunteer who cared for her lawn throughout Ryan’s six-month deployment.

“He did a fantastic job and was so humble. He didn’t want anyone to make a big fuss,” she says. “But it was a big deal to us. We were so grateful for the help when we needed it most.”

When Ryan deployed a second time, Katelyn was unable to be matched with a volunteer and had to manage the lawn herself. While she was fortunate to have family nearby who could lend a hand, she knows many military families don’t have that same support system.

“I can only imagine what families without that kind of support go through,” she says.

The experience reinforced for Katelyn just how valuable GreenCare for Troops volunteers can be. She knows firsthand that something as simple as mowing a lawn can provide meaningful relief during one of the most challenging times in a military family’s life.

“I’m sharing my story because I hope more people learn about GreenCare for Troops and decide to volunteer,” says Katelyn. “Believe me, it makes a huge impact. Having even one responsibility taken off your plate during a deployment means more than most people can imagine.”

A Little Help Can Make a Big Difference – Register Today!

When a loved one is deployed, taking care of things at home can feel overwhelming. GreenCare for Troops is here to help ease the burden.

The program connects eligible military families with lawn and landscape professionals who volunteer their services during deployment. If your family could use an extra hand, we encourage you to register.

Receive help with lawn and landscape services
Connect with a volunteer in your community when available
Take one more task off your plate during deployment

You don’t have to manage everything on your own. Register your family with GreenCare for Troops today and let us help connect you with a volunteer in your community.

Sign up today

Thank You to Our Generous Supporters

The Title Sponsor of the GreenCare for Troops program is Nufarm, while BOSS Snowplow proudly sponsors SnowCare for Troops.

Our Platinum Partners include Toro, SiteOne Landscape Supply, and Heritage Landscape Supply.

The Silver Partner is Arborjet/Ecologel and our Affiliate Partners include the Connecticut Grounds Keepers Association and the Florida Nursery, Growers and Landscape Association.

GreenCare for Troops is proudly endorsed by the National Association of Landscape Professionals.

Join us today and be part of something bigger.

Two Decades of Giving Back: Why KEI Enterprises Continues to Answer the Call for Military Families

Two decades of giving back have given Chris Kujawa a front-row seat to the remarkable growth of Project EverGreen’s GreenCare for Troops and SnowCare for Troops programs.

As president of Oak Creek, Wisconsin-based KEI Enterprises, Inc., Kujawa was one of the early supporters of the initiative 20 years ago and has remained a dedicated supporter ever since.

“To be honest, from the beginning the concept was very simple,” Kujawa explains. “Let’s pair lawn and landscape contractors in local communities with military families who are facing the challenge of a mom or dad being deployed and taking care of their lawns while they’re away.”

Chris Kujawa proudly displays an American flag presented by a deployed service member whose family received support through GreenCare for Troops. The flag, flown on a combat mission over the Red Sea, serves as a powerful reminder of the lasting impact a simple act of service can have on military families.

Snow and ice removal services were added later, but the mission has remained the same.

“We’re helping individuals who are literally putting it all on the line, often in places where they may never return.”

For KEI, participating in GreenCare for Troops and SnowCare for Troops has generated tremendous goodwill throughout the community, strengthened connections with military families, and reinforced the company’s culture of service.

“There’s nothing about it that’s self-serving,” Kujawa says. “Our people are proud to be part of it, and they’re proud to serve these families.”

KEI recently completed service for two military families and has already been matched with another household requesting assistance. Most of the families they serve are connected to the National Guard, meaning they are often middle-income families with young children navigating the challenges of deployment.

“From our standpoint, we’re helping families who aren’t living on sprawling estates,” he says. “These are hard-working Americans facing a major disruption to their lives and their income. We can provide what amounts to a minimal investment of labor that makes a tremendous difference for them.”

Sometimes that difference is acknowledged with a simple thank-you. Other times, it becomes a memory that lasts a lifetime.

“We had a deployed soldier from one of the families we helped last winter stop by recently and present me with an American flag displayed in a custom case,” Kujawa recalls. “He had actually flown that flag on a combat mission over the Red Sea.”

The moment was deeply moving.

“I was emotional. I had tears in my eyes,” he says. “I couldn’t thank him enough. He told me there were times during the biggest snowstorms when our crews came out multiple times to keep everything clear. His wife never had to worry about it. She already had enough on her plate taking care of the kids, getting them ready for school, and managing everything at home. Not having to shovel snow or spread deicer made a huge difference for her. I was the one who was blown away.”

As Project EverGreen celebrates the 20th anniversary of GreenCare for Troops and SnowCare for Troops, Kujawa believes there has never been a better time for companies to get involved. The need continues to grow. Since January 1, 2026, 387 military families have registered for lawn care or snow removal assistance, while 48 new volunteer organizations have joined the effort.

“I would recommend that any company in an area where military families need help participate in GreenCare for Troops and SnowCare for Troops,” Kujawa says. “Just do it. It’s only a few hours for a couple of employees. From my perspective, it’s not a significant expense. It’s great for company culture because our employees genuinely enjoy helping. And the impact you have on a military family is incredible. They truly appreciate it.”

For KEI Enterprises, two decades of service have reinforced a simple truth: a few hours of work can ease the burden on families that sacrifice for our country, and those small acts of kindness often leave a lasting impact on everyone involved.

Join the Mission – Become a Volunteer Today!

Deployed families need support now. Step up with GreenCare for Troops and put your expertise to work.

Put your skills to work
Support a family in your community
Make an immediate, meaningful impact

Join a nationwide network of professionals stepping up when it matters most. Volunteer today. A military family near you is waiting.

Sign up today

Thank You to Our Generous Supporters

The Title Sponsor of the GreenCare for Troops program is Nufarm, while BOSS Snowplow proudly sponsors SnowCare for Troops.

Our Platinum Partners include Toro, SiteOne Landscape Supply, and Heritage Landscape Supply.

The Silver Partner is Arborjet/Ecologel and our Affiliate Partners include the Connecticut Grounds Keepers Association and the Florida Nursery, Growers and Landscape Association.

GreenCare for Troops is proudly endorsed by the National Association of Landscape Professionals.

Join us today and be part of something bigger.

Weed Man Launches Challenge Coin Initiative Honoring GreenCare for Troops Families

Weed Man has launched a Challenge Coin recognition initiative to honor military families participating in Project EverGreen’s GreenCare for Troops program. A charter supporter of Project EverGreen and one of North America’s leading lawn care franchise organizations, Weed Man continues to demonstrate its long-standing commitment to those who serve. Currently, Weed Man serves 275 military families in 29 states through the program.

Rooted in military tradition, challenge coins are symbols of service, sacrifice, camaraderie, and appreciation. Select Weed Man franchisees will present a custom challenge coin to every GreenCare for Troops family they serve as a lasting reminder that their sacrifices are recognized and valued by the communities they call home.

Madison, Wisconsin-based Epic3 franchise group, which currently provides complimentary lawn care services to 102 military families across 16 states, is one of the drivers of the Challenge Coin initiative.

“Weed Man is both excited and honored to expand our partnership with Project EverGreen’s GreenCare for Troops,” said Cam Cundiff of Epic3. “We want to do our part in giving back to the service members and families who sacrifice for our country every day, and this program allows us to do exactly that.”

Cam Cundiff of the Epic3 franchise group displays the custom Weed Man Challenge Coin that will be presented to GreenCare for Troops families as a symbol of gratitude and recognition for the sacrifices they make while a loved one serves our country. Epic3 currently provides complimentary lawn care services to 102 military families across 16 states.

Cundiff said they designed this challenge coin as a token of their profound respect and appreciation for deployed service members and their loved ones.

“Each family benefiting from GreenCare for Troops through an Epic3 franchise will receive a coin, letting them know we have their lawns covered while they serve and protect our country,” added Cundiff. “We hope it serves as a comforting reminder of home.”

Joe Schaffel, Weed Man franchise owner in Fort Worth, Texas, and an Army veteran said they want every family we serve to know their sacrifice matters.

“The challenge coin is a simple but meaningful way to express our gratitude and let military families know they are supported and appreciated,” said Schaffel.

“Since the beginning of GreenCare for Troops, Weed Man franchisees have stepped forward to serve military families in communities across the country,” said Cindy Code, executive director of Project EverGreen. “Their commitment reflects the best of our industry by combining service, community support, and environmental stewardship. The lawns and landscapes they maintain help create healthy outdoor spaces where families can gather, children can play, and military families can enjoy a sense of normalcy while their loved ones are serving our country.”

In addition to supporting military families, the healthy lawns and landscapes maintained through GreenCare for Troops provide measurable environmental benefits, including carbon sequestration, improved air quality, stormwater management, reduced urban heat, and safer outdoor environments for families.

Collectively, the properties served by Weed Man through GreenCare for Troops generate environmental benefits that include sequestering carbon, cleaning the air and creating cooler yards and homes.

During its 20^th anniversary year, Project EverGreen is encouraging lawn care operators, landscape contractors, irrigation professionals, arborists, sports field managers, snow and ice professionals, and green industry suppliers to join the growing network of volunteers serving military families nationwide.

Since its inception in 2006, GreenCare for Troops has connected more than 15,000 volunteers with 20,000 military families and generated more than $20 million in donated lawn and landscape services. Today, more than 1,600 volunteers continue to serve military families across the United States, helping ease the burden of deployment one property at a time.

The need remains significant. Since the start of 2026 alone, nearly 400 military families have registered for assistance through the program. Every new volunteer helps ensure those families receive the support they deserve while a loved one serves our nation.

“As we celebrate 20 year serving military families through GreenCare for Troops, we’re reminded that the program’s success is built on the generosity of volunteers and partners like Weed Man,” Code said. “For two decades, lawn care and landscape professionals have stepped forward to support military families in a meaningful way. Their commitment continues to strengthen communities, improve outdoor spaces, and show military families that their sacrifices are appreciated.”

Join the Mission – Become a Volunteer Today!

Deployed families need support now. Be like the dedicated volunteers at Weed Man and step up with GreenCare for Troops and put your expertise to work.

Put your skills to work
Support a family in your community
Make an immediate, meaningful impact

Join a nationwide network of professionals stepping up when it matters most. Volunteer today. Someone near you is waiting.

Sign up today

Thank You to Our Generous Supporters

The Title Sponsor of the GreenCare for Troops program is Nufarm, while BOSS Snowplow proudly sponsors SnowCare for Troops.

Our Platinum Partners include Toro, SiteOne Landscape Supply, and Heritage Landscape Supply.

The Silver Partner is Arborjet/Ecologel and our Affiliate Partners include the Connecticut Grounds Keepers Association and the Florida Nursery, Growers and Landscape Association.

GreenCare for Troops is proudly endorsed by the National Association of Landscape Professionals.

Join us today and be part of something bigger.