75 PLANET member volunteers gathered at the Home of the Innocents for the 3rd annual PLANET Gives Back, in Louisville, Ky. Bartlett Tree Experts, Belgard Hardscapes, Blizzard Snowplows, CNA Business Insurance, Fisher Snowplows, Include Software, Nature Safe, John Deere, and Western also made contributions.

Volunteers installed one of many trees to help build a privacy screen on the grounds. They also cleaned up the butterfly garden, installed fresh mulch on the grounds playground, cleaned up raised vegetable beds and planted new winter crops.

Professional Landcare Network held its third annual PLANET Gives Back project, a volunteer service event, during the Green Industry Conference in Louisville, Ky.

A group of 75 PLANET member volunteers (landscape contractors, suppliers and students) worked to enhance the Home of the Innocents, a nonprofit shelter and pediatric convalescent center that provides services to those facing severe crisis, including children who have been abused, neglected, or abandoned, medically fragile children, and those with autism.

"We are pleased to continue our efforts in the downtown Louisville area for the third year in a row and especially thrilled to be working with the Home of the Innocents," said Alex Fransen, PLANET Gives Back project manager. "This is a great opportunity for members to give back to the city of Louisville, showcase their skills, improve the environment, and help solidify partnerships within the community."

The lead sponsors for this project were GIE+EXPO, Bartlett Tree Experts, Belgard Hardscapes, Blizzard Snowplows, CNA Business Insurance, Fisher Snowplows, Include Software, Nature Safe, John Deere, and Western. The supporting sponsors were STIHL Inc. and Syngenta.

"It's both a pleasure and a privilege to help where we can," says Yardscapes founder, Shayne Newman. "Seeing some of the same people from last year's Gives Back outreach is inspiring. It speaks to PLANET members' commitment, and to the event's momentum."

This event was created in 2011 as a way to give back to the conference's host city and to showcase the expertise, knowledge, and resources of the landscape industry and the impact it makes on communities. It was organized by PLANET members with the help of sponsors and local donations of material and equipment.

This year, the scope of work included installing 25 trees to help improve the natural screening of the perimeters of the property; installing and repairing new drip irrigation around all of the new trees; laying down new playground mulch so that the children have a safe area to play in; cleaning up the butterfly garden and putting it to sleep for the winter season; cleaning up the raised planter beds and planting winter crops.