NASHVILLE, Tenn. (Sept. 20, 2011) – The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers partnered with Hands On Nashville and Cummins, Inc. to refurbish the picnic area here today at Smith Springs Park at J. Percy Priest Dam.
More than 180 employees of Cummins joined with volunteers from Hands On Nashville and a number of rangers assigned to the J. Percy Priest Dam to refurbish many of the picnic areas, pavilion and the parking area at Smith Springs Park.
The partnership was born from a call from Cummins’ leadership to Amy Maloney, director of Corporate Relations and Events for HON, inquiring about any volunteer opportunities available that their company could participate. The company was interested in something local that would provide a benefit for the public and its employees.
As the old adage goes location is everything. Cummins offices are located right off of Elm Hill Pike, basically right in JPP’s backyard. With HON’s great relationship with the Corps of Engineers, Maloney immediately contacted the Corps’ Natural Resources Office at J. Percy Priest and a great partnership was born.
Todd Yann, J. Percy Priest Lake resource manager, said, “Everyone benefits from a project like this. The corporate partner builds their team and establishes good will with the community; their employees have a great time working together and taking pride in their accomplishments; and the public benefits from the improved facilities which increases the enjoyment of their recreation experience!”
Yann estimates the value of Cummins community impact achieved through volunteer and financial contributions for this project at more than $38,000.
The community impact from the hard work involved was invaluable to the local area. The day included the refurbishment of 16 picnic and 10 grill areas; staining the entire 2,000 square-foot pavilion and six picnic tables; measuring/cutting and installing 80 timbers around the picnic areas and lastly restriping over 100 lines on the parking lot.
“The workday began at 8 a.m. and the amount of work completed in that one day was truly remarkable,” said Maloney. “One can only marvel at all the amazing work everyone accomplished. What a great team!”
“The partnership we've developed with HON and Cummins will provide a benefit to the public for years to come,” said Park Ranger Courtney Wilson. “The efforts of HON and the entire JPP staff so impressed the Cummins executives that they have already inquired about planning future projects.”
Celebrating their 20th year as Middle Tennessee’s volunteer resource center, Hands On Nashville is one of the largest HandsOn Network affiliates in the country. In 2010, HON connected nearly 200,000 volunteers with service opportunities, facilitating volunteer work for 737 Middle Tennessee nonprofits, schools, government agencies, faith-based organizations, civic groups and businesses. HON volunteers support 25 issue areas ranging from hunger and homelessness to at-risk youth and seniors in need.
Cummins Inc., a global power leader, is a corporation of complementary business units that design, manufacture, distribute and service engines and related technologies, including fuel systems, controls, air handling, filtration, emission solutions and electrical power generation systems. Headquartered in Columbus, Indiana, (USA) Cummins serves customers in approximately 190 countries and territories through a network of more than 500 company-owned and independent distributor locations and approximately 5,200 dealer locations.
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