Landscape Architect Articles

LCN Off The Clock October, 200410-01-04 | News

The Spirit of Giving

Many Companies and Individuals Perform
Regular Christmas Philanthropy –What Are
You Planning This Year?

By Jodie Carter, regional editor

Every Christmas members of the San Fernando Valley CLCA Chapter, like Gordon Larson, president of Larson Landscape, donate toys to children who are victims of domestic violence.

CLCA Helps Victims of Domestic Violence

For the last 20 Christmas holidays, the San Fernando Valley chapter of the California Landscape Contractor’s Association (CLCA) has donated numerous unwrapped toys to Haven Hills, an organization that provides safety and support to victims of domestic violence.

“Many years ago, when searching for a deserving organization for our toy drive, our criteria included finding an organization that was local and one that would give the toys to children who weren?EUR??,,????'???t expecting any holiday gifts,” said Nelson Colvin, chapter board member. “Haven Hills provides safety and support to victims of domestic violence, while working to break the cycle of abuse. It offers shelter, crisis intervention, counseling and advocacy to victims primarily in the San Fernando Valley. This organization clearly met our criteria.”

Prior to donating to Haven Hills, the San Fernando Valley CLCA Chapter used to have a gift exchange at its annual holiday parties. The general consensus was that the members didn’t feel that the gift exchange was necessary, and that there must be a better way to celebrate the spirit of giving. This chapter has always enjoyed giving back to its community.

“The donations we receive from the San Fernando Valley CLCLA Chapter, along with those from other people and organizations, are used to make the gift giving part of the holiday season truly enjoyable for the 200 families in our two shelters,” states Betty Fisher, executive director of Haven Hills. “This help is invaluable.”

Find out more about Haven Hills at www.havenhills.org.

Husqvarna Sponsors Capital Holiday Tree

Last year Gerry Ikola of McCall, Idaho, a third generation logger and woodsman with more than 30 years of experience, used a donated Husqvarna chain saw to fell a 70-foot Englemann Spruce that served as the Capitol Holiday Tree. The tree journeyed across the country culminating with a lighting ceremony in Washington, D.C. on Dec. 11, 2003.

Every year a Christmas tree is cut to decorate the front lawn of the U.S. Capitol Building in Washington, and 2004 will mark the fifth consecutive year Husqvarna had served as an official sponsor. As in years past, Husqvarna will donate professional grade chain saws for the tree cutting ceremony as well as head-to-toe safety gear for the professional logger who fells the tree.

Typically the cut tree will travel cross-country via truck to Washington, D.C. where it will be the centerpiece of an official lighting ceremony, scheduled in mid-December.