St. Stephen's and BrightView Volunteers 'Brighten Lives' Together

More than 60 volunteers from BrightView donated their skills, time, and resources to transform the campus at St. Stephen's Community House, an organization that advances the self-sufficiency of residents in the Columbus region by providing services in workforce development, social development, counseling, an urban garden program, a bike loan program, and education and after school childcare. 

BrightView team members enhanced the landscape, built raised planter beds, and constructed new benches and tables to create an environment that will enable St. Stephen's to fulfill its mission of Brightening Lives. In addition to these projects, BrightView will be providing St. Stephen's with an in-kind donation by installing an irrigation system and new pathways for St. Stephen's community garden, Project AquaStar, valued at over $30,000. 

"Our teams across the region are very inspired by the work St. Stephen's is doing so we decided to rally together and lend our skills to give back," said BrightView Vice President and General Manager Glenn Popieski. 

BrightView is also working with St. Stephen's Learn to Succeed program to provide workforce training and job opportunities in the Linden community. At the event, BrightView announced that they will be providing participants of the program with full-time employment for the summer. The participants will work alongside BrightView teams based out of their East Columbus branch. 

It is because of partners like BrightView that our doors stay open and families find comfort and hope here. This project has transformed our campus and their donations will allow us to expand Project AquaStar and provide more services to our community. 

- Michelle Mills, CEO of St. Stephen's Community House

"We seek to forge long-term strategic partnerships with community organizations in our local markets to provide jobs and career pathways," said BrightView Vice President of Human Resources Jeff Robinson. "The opportunity to partner with St. Stephen's and contribute to their mission of Brightening Lives in our community is something we are all proud to be a part of."

At the June 17 event, Columbus City Council presented BrightView and St. Stephen's Community House with a Certificate of Recognition, highlighting the impactful work the partnership has generated for the Greater Columbus Region. 

"It is because of partners like BrightView that our doors stay open and families find comfort and hope here," said CEO of St. Stephen's Michelle Mills. "This project has transformed our campus and their donations will allow us to expand Project AquaStar and provide more services to our community." 

For BrightView, this project is an extension of a partnership with St. Stephen's Community House that began in December 2015, when the company donated over two tons worth of food to St. Stephen's food nutrition center, a key community resource that serves over 1,700 residents per month. BrightView's employees take pride in being a part of such an inspiring cause. 

"At BrightView, we believe it is important to invest in the communities in which we live and work," said BrightView's Executive Vice President of Public Affairs, Marketing and Communications Rick Martella. "'Taking Care of Communities' is a core component of our brand and something we proudly do every day."

For photos of the BrightView Volunteer Day, click here.