BrightView Supports Gary Sinise Foundation Home for Hero

BrightView teams in Sandestin, Fla., joined the Gary Sinise Foundation and other supporters of their R.I.S.E. program Oct. 18 to dedicate a specially adapted custom smart home for U.S. Air Force Senior Airman Brian Kolfage and his family. BrightView Landscape Development in Tampa teamed up with enhancement teams from our Santa Rosa and Emerald Coast branches to install an irrigation system and beautiful low-maintenance landscape for the Kolfage’s new home.

Sr. Airman Kolfage suffered catastrophic injuries on Sept. 11, 2004, when his airbase fell under rocket and mortar attack.  He lost both legs and his right arm.  He is the most severely wounded U.S. serviceman to survive his injuries. The Gary Sinise Foundation’s R.I.S.E. (Restoring Independence, Supporting Empowerment) program supports heroes like Kolfage by providing specially adapted custom smart homes, mobility devices, home modifications, and vehicles for them and their families.

BrightView announced its support of the Gary Sinise Foundation in September and has committed to providing low-maintenance landscapes for R.I.S.E. homes across the country. The Kolfages’ new home provides a sustainable, safe, and attractive landscape that marks BrightView’s second completed project with the Foundation.  

“Our teams were thrilled to provide a landscape and home environment that the family can enjoy for years to come,” said Todd Chesnut, Vice President and General Manager. “I had the pleasure of meeting the family and was inspired by their love and support for each other and their new home.”

BrightView Landscape Development started the project by installing the irrigation system and was later joined by BrightView Landscape Services teams to install trees, plant material, pine straw, mulch, and lay sod. Our teams worked with local suppliers to have nearly all trees and plant materials for the project donated. 

“The biggest thing for us, in addition to helping such a great cause, is seeing how our three teams pooled our resources and skills to make this happen,” said Charlie Bland, Branch Manager. “We worked together and brought our local vendors into the process to really make this a community of support.”  

BrightView will continue supporting the R.I.S.E. Program and has future projects underway in Maryland, Tennessee and Georgia.

“It was an honor and a privilege to be a part of this project,” said Michael Dozier, Southeast Region Senior Vice President. “Our teams embraced this opportunity to give back to a hero and we look forward to seeing our future projects.”

Our teams were thrilled to provide a landscape and home environment that the family can enjoy for years to come. I had the pleasure of meeting the family and was inspired by their love and support for each other and their new home.
- Todd Chesnut, BrightView Vice President and General Manager