FORT COLLINS, Colo. (April 24, 2017) – What started as a simple service project in March has since turned into a community-wide initiative that combines the efforts of numerous businesses and organizations. Through his Leadership Fort Collins team, Audubon Rockies’ Deputy Director, John Kloster-Prew, has led the planning and implementation of Project Habitat Heroes, which will create a new garden for the Sister Mary Alice Murphy Center for Hope. The garden will provide sustenance, homes for pollinators and a space for peaceful relaxation and enjoyment. All Terrain Landscaping, who is donating all the irrigation and labor to install the system, is one of many generous local businesses that is allowing this project to come into fruition.
“The Sister Mary Alice Murphy Center for Hope does incredible work to help struggling individuals in northern Colorado,” said Kloster-Prew. “We are fortunate to have the support of so many philanthropic businesses to make the garden more enjoyable and inviting for the Center’s guests and wildlife.”
The Center offers an array of services that help individuals who are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless. The organization provides immediate relief but also addresses underlying causes of homelessness to assist guests on their journey to self-sufficiency. More information on the Center’s mission may be found at murphycenter.org.
The Center’s garden, located on the west side of its location at 242 Conifer St. in Fort Collins, has suffered from overgrowth and weeds for many years. Project Habitat Heroes will enhance the garden so that it includes vegetables, fruit plants and trees for the guests to cultivate and eat, as well as native flowers that attract birds, bees, butterflies and other pollinators. The revamped garden will further feature a 10 ft. x 15 ft. shade sail and seating area with a swing and boulder seats for guests to enjoy. The garden is set to be completed on Friday, May 5.
“All Terrain Landscaping is proud to support this remarkable cause and join forces with so many other philanthropic businesses in northern Colorado,” said owner of All Terrain Landscaping, Jason Yeater. “A durable and conservational irrigation system will breathe new life into the Center’s current garden.”
In addition to Audubon Rockies’ leadership and plant expertise and All Terrain Landscaping’s irrigation system installation, Project Habitat Heroes combines the generosity of several other project participants:
• UCHealth – Providing $500 in funding and purchasing of tools
• Brinkman Construction – Providing $500 in funding, fabrication and installation of shade sail poles, and volunteer recruitment
• Blue Federal Credit Union – Providing $500 in funding and purchasing food, water and snacks for project participants
• Thrivent Financial – Providing $250 in funding and helping with plant purchasing
• Nature in the City (City of Fort Collins) – Matching funds of $1,750; providing site design and plant list, as well as building four trellises for climbing vines
• The Growing Project – Current garden manager assisting with all aspects of the design and plant list
• Rain Bird – Provided in-kind donation of irrigation system controls
• Old Chicago – In-kind pizza donation for the All Terrain Landscaping crew
• Human Bean – In-kind donation of coffee for project day
• Lamar’s Donuts – In-kind donation of donuts for project day
• Story Teller Video Marketing – Providing in-kind photo and video of the entire project for the Murphy Center to use
In addition to Kloster-Prew, the Leadership Fort Collins team in charge of this project include Jessie Willard (UCHealth), Alaina Squires (Brinkman Construction), April Peterson (Blue Federal Credit Union) and Natalia Infante (Thrivent Financial). The team will be executing the landscaping work of the garden area to fulfill this project.
About Audubon Rockies:
Audubon Rockies is a regional office of The National Audubon Society, located in North America’s Central Flyway, and is the leader of the Central Flyway, which provides critical habitat from the mountains, deserts, prairies, river systems and wetlands for millions of migrating, breeding and resident birds. Audubon Rockies has a respected history in the West by keeping avenues of information and understanding flowing, from habitat restoration to advocating for protections for Greater Sage-grouse and more water in our western rivers. For more information contact us at http://Rockies.Audubon.org.
About All Terrain Landscaping
Started by three brothers in 2002, All Terrain Landscaping is a full-service landscaping company serving northern Colorado with certified, insured and professional expertise. The team specializes in creating and enhancing residential and commercial outdoor living spaces through landscaping. Their year-round service includes design, irrigation and sprinkler installation, year-round and holiday lighting, pond creation, maintenance and service, as well as commercial snow removal. For more information visit atpslandscaping.com.
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