Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

National Neighborhood Promise Year in Review: 23 Projects, $2 Million in Grants

Nov 26, 2019 3:15 PM ET

It’s been said that charity starts at home, and for Republic Services, that means helping make a difference in the neighborhoods where our employees live and work. 

One year ago, we launched a charitable giving program to help transform neighborhoods across the nation. Since that time, we’ve donated more than $2 million to support 23 neighborhood revitalization projects.

Through the National Neighborhood Promise program, the Republic Services Charitable Foundation partners with select 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations to directly support neighborhood revitalization projects and programs across the country. These partnerships strengthen neighborhoods by rebuilding, revitalizing and restoring public places and spaces such as parks, playgrounds and other vital community landmarks. 

Grants ranged from $35,000 to $250,000. These projects not only engaged local Republic employees but also members of the community. For example:

  • Houston, TX: In partnership with Avenue Community Development Corp., Republic’s local team helped improve the playground and community park at Looscan Elementary School and provided critical home repairs for neighboring families throughout the Northside of Houston. The project impacted 25,000 community members.
     
  • Springfield, MO: In partnership with Habitat for Humanity of Springfield, Republic’s employees and volunteers supported the cleanup of Lafayette Park and the installation of a playground in Woodland Heights to make the areas safer for visitors. This public space is used by over 40,000 community members. Habitat for Humanity of Springfield recently honored Republic Services with the Golden Hammer Award at its Hearts & Hammers Awards program.  
     
  • Charlotte, NC: More than 160 Republic team members and Charlotte-Mecklenburg Housing Partnership volunteers helped revitalize the exterior of 25 homes in the Druid Hills neighborhood and cleaned up the local neighborhood park and community gardens, positively impacting more than 12,000 people in the area.
     
  • Phoenix, AZ: Along with Rebuilding Together Valley of the Sun, Republic’s local team supported the revitalization of Moya Elementary School. Republic employees and their families helped construct community gardens, basketball courts and a soccer field on the school grounds, in addition to critical building repairs to make a difference for over 100,000 members of the neighborhood. Volunteers will return to Moya Elementary in December to do additional work on the school grounds.

    “Improving one house on one block increases the value of every home on the block. If you improve an entire neighborhood, the same thing happens with adjacent neighborhoods,” said Kelly Watson, executive director of Rebuilding Together Valley of the Sun. “The community begins to thrive, with safe homes, safe neighborhoods and happy, healthy families.”

The Charitable Foundation is looking ahead to the funding projects planned for 2020. Learn more about the National Neighborhood Promise program by visiting RepublicServices.com/giving.