Shared Values and Measurable Impact: How Hunter Industries and Project EverGreen Are Advancing Healthier Communities

Shared values and measurable impact are at the heart of the long-standing partnership between Hunter Industries and Project EverGreen. Together, both organizations recognize that healthy, well-managed landscapes do more than enhance curb appeal, they strengthen communities, support environmental resilience, and improve quality of life.

In this Project EverGreen Partner Q&A, Warren Gorowitz, Director of Sustainability and Social Impact at Hunter Industries, shares how a commitment to responsible water management and community investment continues to drive meaningful progress for green spaces across the country.

What inspired Hunter to get involved, and why has that commitment remained strong over the years?

Hunter Industries has always believed that healthy landscapes are essential to thriving communities. Our involvement with Project EverGreen was a natural extension of that belief, supporting an organization that champions the environmental and social value of green spaces aligns closely with our purpose. What has kept that commitment strong is the tangible impact Project EverGreen delivers. Whether it is revitalizing community parks or supporting military families through GreenCare for Troops, their work consistently demonstrates how landscapes improve quality of life. That combination of shared values and measurable outcomes continues to reinforce our long-term partnership

Shared Values and Measurable Impact - Project EverGreen

Healthy, well-managed landscapes do more than enhance curb appeal – they strengthen communities, support environmental resilience, and improve quality of life. That shared commitment is what brings Hunter Industries and Project EverGreen together, including Hunter’s support of the 2017 ballfield renovation in San Marcos, California – home to the company’s headquarters.

How does Project EverGreen’s mission align with Hunter Industries’ approach to sustainability and responsible water management?

Project EverGreen’s focus on the environmental, social, and economic benefits of green spaces closely mirrors Hunter’s holistic approach to sustainability. At Hunter, we think about sustainability not just in terms of resource efficiency, but in how landscapes contribute to climate resilience, human well-being, and community vitality. Responsible water management is central to that, ensuring landscapes are both beautiful and efficient. Project EverGreen helps elevate that conversation by highlighting the broader value of managed green spaces and reinforcing that well-designed and properly maintained landscapes are part of the solution, not the problem.

Why is it important for companies like Hunter to support initiatives that demonstrate the real-world value of managed landscapes?

There is often a disconnect between perception and reality when it comes to landscapes. Initiatives like the Clean Air Calculator and community revitalization projects help quantify and visualize the real benefits, including carbon sequestration, temperature reduction, and improved mental health. For companies like Hunter, supporting this work is critical because it brings credibility and clarity to the role our industry plays. It helps shift the narrative from landscapes as purely aesthetic to landscapes as essential infrastructure. That understanding is key to driving better policy, smarter water use, and more sustainable practices overall

Why is it important for industry leaders to give back and invest in the communities they serve?

The green industry is uniquely positioned at the intersection of environment and community. The work we do shapes the spaces where people live, gather, and connect. With that influence comes a responsibility to give back. When industry leaders invest in communities, whether through volunteerism, funding, or partnerships, they help ensure that the benefits of green spaces are accessible to everyone. It also strengthens the industry itself by building trust, demonstrating value, and inspiring the next generation of professionals. Giving back is not just the right thing to do, it is essential for long-term impact and relevance

What opportunities do you see for continued collaboration between Hunter Industries and Project EverGreen?

Looking ahead, there is a strong opportunity to deepen our collaboration around education, advocacy, and measurable impact. As water scarcity and climate pressures continue to evolve, we can work together to promote best practices in sustainable landscape design and irrigation. Expanding tools that quantify environmental benefits, supporting more community-based projects, and elevating the role of efficient water use in healthy landscapes are all areas where we can make a meaningful difference together. Ultimately, our shared goal is to ensure that green spaces remain a vital, sustainable part of communities across the country, and that is a mission we are excited to continue advancing with Project EverGreen.

Warren Gorowitz, CLIA, EMSL is Director, Sustainability and Social Impact for Hunter Industries – a GreenCare for Communities donor partner. He is member of Project EverGreen’s Advisory Council.

Join the Mission – Learn More About Project EverGreen

Whether you volunteer, partner, or advocate, you play a role. Explore how you can get involved and discover the impact of green spaces in your own community. Because when we can measure the difference, we can multiply it.

Learn more about our initiatives and programs, and see where you can lend your time and talents.

 

 

Every Day Is Earth Day: How Project EverGreen Turns Purpose into Action

Every day is Earth Day for Project EverGreen. Earth Day is a powerful reminder of our shared responsibility to care for the planet. At Project EverGreen, that responsibility isn’t limited to a single day – it drives our work every day. Our focus is simple: create and sustain healthy green spaces that benefit people, communities, and the environment.

From Awareness to Action and Now, Measurement

Lawns, landscapes, parks, and managed green spaces are more than aesthetic. They actively:

  • Sequester carbon
  • Improve air quality
  • Reduce urban heat
  • Manage stormwater
  • Support healthier communities

What’s new and critical is the ability to measure that impact in real terms. That’s why Project EverGreen developed the Clean Air Calculator.

The Clean Air Calculator translates green space into tangible environmental benefits: quantifying carbon sequestration, clean air production, and the number of people positively impacted. It turns something people value into something they can see, understand, and advocate for.

Because protecting green space is no longer just about belief, it’s about proof.

Supporting Military Families Through GreenCare for Troops

Environmental stewardship and community support go hand in hand. Through GreenCare for Troops, lawn and landscape professionals volunteer their services to maintain outdoor spaces for military families with a deployed service member. The impact is immediate and meaningful:

  • Reduces stress for families
  • Maintains safe, usable outdoor spaces
  • Ensures landscapes continue delivering environmental benefits

Healthy, maintained lawns don’t just look better, they function better for families and the environment alike.

Revitalizing Public Spaces Through GreenCare for Communities

Across the country, Project EverGreen transforms underperforming parks, athletic fields, and shared green spaces into thriving community assets. These projects go beyond visual improvement and deliver the following:

  • Restore soil and turf health
  • Introduce sustainable landscaping practices
  • Create cooler, safer, more functional environments

And increasingly, tools like the Clean Air Calculator help demonstrate the long-term environmental return of these investments.

A Collective Effort with Real Results

This work is powered by a network of partners, volunteers, and industry professionals committed to a common goal: advancing environmental stewardship through action. Together, we’re not just improving spaces. We’re elevating the conversation around the value of green spaces by pairing on-the-ground impact with measurable outcomes.

Beyond Earth Day

Earth Day sparks awareness. But lasting change requires consistency and accountability. At Project EverGreen, every day is Earth Day. And today, we’re doing more than acting – we’re quantifying the difference healthy green spaces make.

Join the Mission – Learn More About Project EverGreen

Whether you volunteer, partner, or advocate, you play a role. Explore how you can get involved – and discover the impact of green spaces in your own community. Because when we can measure the difference, we can multiply it.

Learn more about our initiatives and programs, and see where you can lend your time and talents.

More About the Clean Air Calculator

What is the Clean Air Calculator?

The Clean Air Calculator is a tool that measures the environmental benefits of green spaces including lawns, landscapes, parks, sports fields, golf courses and more.

How does the Clean Air Calculator work?

The Clean Air Calculator is a web-based mapping tool that measures the positive environmental impact of plants – specifically lawns, trees and shrubs – on a property. The Clean Air Calculator combines geographic information system (GIS)-based interactive maps with a scientific data model to identify the value of actual green space in cities, neighborhoods, communities and individual properties. After the mapping is completed, the tool tallies the measurements and estimates the environmental benefits of that property.

Who can use the Clean Air Calculator?

Anyone! Homeowners, service professionals, schools, municipalities, parks can all benefit from using the Clean Air Calculator, to name a few.

 

Shawn Salazar – Continuing a Legacy of Service from the Trenches to the Homefront

Shawn Salazar’s connection to military service runs deep. As the owner of Heritage Lawn and Landscape Management in Converse, Texas, near San Antonio, he has been an active participant in Project EverGreen’s GreenCare for Troops program for several years, helping military families navigate deployments with complimentary mowing and landscape maintenance.

His father served in the Army and fought in both Korea and Vietnam, while his father-in-law served across multiple branches during a long military career.

For his father, service was never about recognition or rank.

“He was a Master Sergeant, but he never wanted to be an officer. He always wanted to be the guy in the trenches,” says Salazar. “He received Purple Hearts and distinguished service medals and lost an eye in battle. I know he had many stories to tell, but guys like him never talked about it.”

Salazar was just nine years old when his father passed away, but the impression he left was lasting. While he was too young at the time to fully understand, he now reflects with deep respect on the strength his mother showed while raising four children during his father’s extended deployments.

“I look back and have to wonder how in the world my mom raised four kids when my dad was gone for so much time,” says Salazar.

That understanding of what military families face is a driving force behind his involvement in GreenCare for Troops. He also values the program’s thoughtful vetting process, ensuring that the families receiving support are those who truly need it.

“You know, it’s generally the lower-paid, lower-ranked military personnel who are deployed most often, sometimes doing very difficult jobs in very difficult places,” says Salazar. “They’re also usually younger families with kids at home, so you know that deployment creates real financial and emotional strain.”

Over the years, Salazar has supported several families, and one of the families he is currently helping reflects exactly why he is so committed to the program.

“The wife has a seven-year-old child at home, and she tells me, ‘I just don’t know how I am going to do it,’” he says.

For Salazar, the service goes beyond simply mowing a lawn. He prefers to meet with families before starting service to better understand their needs and determine how he might do more.

“You can customize what you are able to provide depending on the situation,” he explains. “Maybe we can commit to trimming shrubs along with mowing if it makes sense.”

Through his work, Salazar continues a legacy of service rooted in his family – supporting those who serve by caring for the places they call home.

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. 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.

 

Spring Yard Cleanups – A Fresh Start for Military Families

Spring yard cleanups bring a fresh start for military families – greening lawns, budding trees and more time outdoors as warmer days return.

For military families with a loved one deployed, however, spring can also bring added stress.

Seasonal yard work does not pause for deployment. Leaves left behind from fall, broken branches from winter storms, compacted soil and matted turf all demand attention. What might normally be a weekend project for two adults can quickly become overwhelming for the spouse or caregiver managing home, work and children alone.

That is why spring yard cleanups are more than cosmetic. They are practical, protective and deeply meaningful.

Removing Winter’s Wear and Tear

Winter leaves its mark on every landscape. Snow mold can mat turf down. Salt from walkways can damage grass edges. Fallen limbs, debris and leftover leaves block sunlight and trap moisture.

A thorough spring cleanup typically includes:

  • Removing sticks, branches and debris
  • Raking and dethatching matted turf
  • Cleaning out landscape beds
  • Pruning damaged shrubs
  • Edging and redefining borders

These steps allow air, water and nutrients to reach the soil surface again. They also reduce the risk of fungal disease and pest activity that can take hold in damp, compacted areas.

For a military spouse juggling daily responsibilities, having volunteers step in to complete these tasks removes a physical burden and a mental one. It restores order after a long winter and creates breathing room at a time when it is needed most.

Setting the Stage for a Healthy Summer Lawn

Spring cleanup is not just about appearances; it is foundational to long-term lawn health.

When debris is cleared and turf is upright and exposed to sunlight, grass can begin active growth more evenly. Early-season aeration and proper fertilization are more effective when the lawn is not smothered by thatch or leaves. Pruning damaged branches encourages healthier, stronger growth throughout the growing season.

The result by summer is:

  • Thicker turf that crowds out weeds
  • More resilient grass during heat and drought
  • Healthier root systems
  • Cleaner, safer outdoor spaces for children and pets

For families awaiting the return of a deployed service member, a healthy lawn and maintained yard become more than landscaping goals. They become the backdrop for homecomings, backyard barbecues and simple evenings outside together.

Stability During Deployment

Perhaps the most powerful benefit of a spring yard cleanup is a sense of stability.

A well-maintained property signals that someone cares. It helps families avoid potential homeowners association notices or neighborhood concerns. It prevents small maintenance issues from becoming costly problems later in the season.

Most importantly, it allows the family at home to focus on what matters most – staying connected to their deployed loved one and managing daily life with confidence.

When green industry professionals donate their time and expertise through programs like GreenCare for Troops, they are not just mowing grass or trimming shrubs. They are lifting a weight from a military family’s shoulders.

Spring is a time of renewal. For military families navigating deployment, a simple yard cleanup can provide structure, dignity and encouragement at exactly the right time.

As lawns green up across the country, so too does the reminder that small acts of service can create lasting impact – one yard, and one family, at a time.

Join the Mission – Become a Volunteer Today!

To learn more, register as a volunteer, or review eligibility requirements, visit:
https://projectevergreen.org/greencare-for-troops/

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.

 

Fort Drum SnowCare for Troops Volunteer Supports Military Families in Heavy Snow

Fort Drum, the U.S. Army base in upstate New York where winter storms are often measured in feet rather than inches, knows that snow removal is far more than a matter of convenience. It is an essential service that helps families safely navigate daily life during some of the harshest winter conditions in the country.

This winter alone, the Fort Drum region has already received well over six feet of snow, with lake-effect storms continuing to add to the seasonal total – a reminder that in northern New York snowfall is often measured in feet rather than inches.

“Snow removal service is expensive, like $50 or $60 a visit, and on a soldier’s salary – especially E4 and below – that’s a lot of money,” says John Russell, a retired soldier and SnowCare for Troops volunteer. “I own two track snow throwers and they run $1,500 to $2,000 per unit, so going out and buying that kind of equipment just isn’t feasible for many soldiers.”

Russell still works full time at the base as a behavioral health MFA, but giving back has always been part of his life. Raised in a family where community service was expected, he has been volunteering since he was 14 years old.

“My whole family does volunteer work,” says Russell. “It was just part of how we were raised.”

In addition to volunteering with SnowCare for Troops, Russell serves his community as a volunteer firefighter and paramedic and currently holds the role of safety chief in his department.

Russell also does some snow removal work on the side. When he heard about the SnowCare for Troops program three years ago from someone at the base, he did some research, signed up and began helping local military families. This winter he has provided snow removal for two families, bringing his total number of families served to four.

“One of the families I help has a husband who is deployed to Korea,” says Russell. “When it’s a minor snowfall she likes to handle it herself, but when it gets past what she can manage I’ll go out and take care of it. They’re definitely grateful – she’s even offered me hot chocolate a couple of times when I come by.”

The Value of SnowCare for Troops During Extreme Winters

Heavy lake-effect snow is a fact of life around Fort Drum, and major winter storms can quickly overwhelm military families already managing the demands of deployment, long work hours and tight household budgets.

That is where SnowCare for Troops volunteers like Russell make a meaningful difference. By clearing driveways and walkways during major snow events, volunteers help ensure families can safely leave their homes, get children to school and access essential services.

For Russell, who served more than two decades in the military and is raising four children with his wife, the motivation is simple.

“We’re a pretty close-knit community here and we try to take care of each other,” he says. “I know what it’s like to leave your family behind when a deployment happens. If I can step in and make life a little easier for a military family during the winter, I’m happy to do it.”

Join the Mission – Become a Volunteer Today!

Are you ready to give back to our military heroes through the power of landscaping? Sign up today and make a meaningful difference!

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.