Staley Da Bear
Well-known member
- Mar 16, 2019
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The Bears on Monday held a Save Da Planet sustainability event with Chicago Gateway Green and IGS Energy at Star Farm Chicago in the Back of the Yards neighborhood.
Bears linebacker Roquan Smith, Staley Da Bear and several IGS employees planted trees, vegetables and flowers in a community garden, propagated strawberry plants, spread mulch and compost, served as runners for materials and landscaped and cleaned the existing fruit trees. Others who participated in those activities included students from Southside Occupational Academy and members of the READI Chicago program.
Additionally, the Bears and IGS have teamed up to provide a $10,000 donation to Star Farm Chicago for greening and sustainability programming.
The Save Da Planet event aligns with the Gateway Green Day of Impact Program, which is a large-scale tree-planting initiative that transforms land into tree-filled green spaces by engaging volunteers and communities. Since its inception in 1986, Chicago Gateway Green has planted 130,000 perennials, more than 80,000 trees and shrubs and has removed 1.35 million pounds of litter.
“IGS is proud to partner with our friends from the Chicago Bears on our collective responsibility to care for the environment,” said Jen Bowden, director of social impact for IGS. “From our commitment to the communities in which we live and work to our environmentally responsible products and services, we strive every day to reduce our environmental impact and encourage those around us to support energy sustainability.”
Chicago Gateway Green improves Chicago’s communities through three key programs: The Expressway Partnership, transforming city roadways into landscaped parkways; the International Sculpture Program, beautifying gateways through the installation of public, international art on expressways; and the Day of Impact Program, a large-scale tree planting initiative that transforms vacant land into tree filled green spaces.
The organization has broad support across the region’s business and civic community and serves as a model for effective public private partnerships. Working towards the sustainability goals of the Chicago Climate Action Plan, Chicago Gateway Green partners with socially responsible corporate citizens and local communities to hold large scale volunteer plantings throughout the city.
With nearly 30 years of experience in the energy industry, IGS provides the following to more than one million customers across the country: natural gas, electricity and home protection products; power generation solutions off the grid; clean, domestic alternative fueling options; and solar solutions.
The company empowers consumers to make choices that best fit their energy needs. IGS’ community investment program, IGS Impact, provides employees with opportunities to get involved with causes that are meaningful to both the company and to them personally.