Bobcat Company is celebrating the season of giving as the organization and its employees wrap up several initiatives aimed at giving back and providing emergency disaster relief to local communities.
Doosan Bobcat Community Days
Earlier this fall, Bobcat employees around the world – including throughout North America – gave back by volunteering in the communities where they live and work as part of its bi-annual Doosan Bobcat Community Days, a companywide volunteer effort.
“Just as Doosan Bobcat’s teams are committed to empowering customers and each other to accomplish more, we are also committed to building stronger communities and a better tomorrow,” said Scott Park, Doosan Bobcat CEO and vice chairman. “By volunteering our time and talents, our employees around the world continue to make an impact on the communities where we live and work.”
To date, more than 1,350 employees across Doosan Bobcat’s global footprint have volunteered more than 5,600 hours to support nearly 100 community projects this year.
Employee volunteers carried out a variety of activities, including picking up roadside litter, planting trees and helping nonprofits with landscaping and facility tasks. In applicable projects, volunteers used a fleet of Bobcat equipment — such as compact loaders, excavators, compact tractors, mowers and more — to get the jobs done.
Hurricane Disaster Relief
In late fall, Bobcat employees and dealers deployed Bobcat equipment, attachments and supplies to communities in several states impacted by Hurricanes Helene and Milton.
Bobcat also donated $885,000 worth of equipment, including forklifts, portable generators and light towers to The Salvation Army to support hurricane relief efforts in the Southeast U.S.
Bobcat Fall Giving Campaign
Bobcat and its employees also recently wrapped up their fall giving campaign, donating more than $189,000 to 139 nonprofit organizations across the U.S.
Through this initiative, Bobcat supports employees by matching their donations dollar for dollar (up to $3,000 per person) to further amplify employees’ generosity toward eligible, 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations.
“It is our mission to empower people, and being a good neighbor in our communities is part of our commitment and culture,” Park continued. “We ensure our employees have the support and time to give back because making a difference in the world starts at home.”
NALP Foundation and Stihl expand Roblox online learning experience
The National Association of Landscape Professionals Foundation began a new partnership with Stihl, an industry provider of outdoor power equipment, for the expansion of the Foundation’s online learning experience Landscape Design Empire on the multiplayer game platform Roblox.
With sponsorship from Stihl, the Landscape Design Empire launched an updated version on Nov. 22, introducing a host of new features and gameplay elements, including a virtual Stihl dealership, on-avatar items, landscaping equipment, tools and vehicles, along with interactive quests and minigames that showcase Stihl’s equipment. The update also includes new landscape jobs and plant options.
This latest update is part of the Foundation’s larger mission to engage younger generations and promote career paths in landscaping and lawn care. Since launching in March, the game has attracted over 57,000 unique players, with 70 percent of users aged 12 and under, a testament to its appeal among younger audiences.
“Our goal with Landscape Design Empire has always been to connect young people with the world of landscaping in a way that’s fun, educational and inspiring,” said Jenn Myers, executive director of the NALP Foundation. “With Stihl’s support, we’re able to expand the game’s offerings, creating a more immersive and hands-on experience. This partnership is a tremendous step forward in our mission to build awareness and excitement around careers in this field.”
Roger Phelps of Stihl said, “Stihl is thrilled to partner with the NALP Foundation on this groundbreaking project. For more than 20 years, Stihl has supported the development of the next generation of landscape professionals through NALP’s National Collegiate Landscape Competition. Through Landscape Design Empire, we are helping the profession connect with young people even earlier and in a way that inspires creativity, teamwork and a deeper understanding of the landscape profession. We’re proud to support the NALP Foundation in building another bridge to the future of our industry.”
The NALP Foundation continues to seek partnerships with organizations interested in supporting the game’s development and expanding the reach of Landscape Design Empire. Future opportunities for sponsors will allow players to experience branded content, special events and additional interactive features that showcase different facets of the landscape industry.
American Rental Association Foundation and The Toro Company Foundation complete children’s play area renovation
The American Rental Association (ARA) Foundation and The Toro Company Foundation, in collaboration with Ditch Witch of Tennessee, Grand Central Party Rental, Southern Events Party Rentals, MTA Distributors, Taylor Rental of Manchester, All Occasions Party Rental, John Deere, McCoy Construction and Forestry, Coker Rental Company, Sunbelt Rentals and KATO Compact Excavator Sales, provided equipment and 50 volunteers during a renovation project for the residents of Renewal House in Nashville, Tenn.
Volunteers came from all over the country to help install a children’s play area with brand new playground equipment, new picnic tables plus repairing and painting a deck and fences. Additionally, new landscaping was planted after the removal of older shrubs and trees to make it a clean and safe environment.
In addition to revitalizing the Renewal House property, The ARA Foundation donated a $20,000 grant to Renewal House. Summer Stevens, operations manager of Renewal House, said she was thankful to be involved in the planning of this project.
“All of the women that benefit from these property improvements have graduated a recovery program and are living here independently with their children. This gives our residents a safe and clean outdoor space for their family to enjoy. We are so proud of these ladies and are happy that the community recognizes their hard work,” Stevens said.
Jill Cole, owner, Southern Events Party Rental, Franklin, Tenn., who also serves as president of the ARA of Tennessee, brought two groups of volunteers to participate in this wonderful project.
“It is great to be involved in a community project to give back. Our staff have enjoyed being a part of this process, and it is good for them to see what is needed in our world and how they can help. It’s a privilege for me to be able to provide that experience for them through our company and the ARA Foundation,” Cole said.
