Swingle's Commitment To The Community
Swingle is dedicated to making Colorado a better place to live. Here are just a few of the ways in which we’re helping our citizens, our cities and our communities:
Hoops to help plant one million trees in the Mile High City
April 2010 - As part of NBA Green Week, the Denver Nuggets, in partnership with Swingle Lawn, Tree and Landscape Care donated $8400 to the Mayor’s Mile High Million Tree Initiative.
At each Denver Nuggets game in the 2009-10 regular season, Swingle Lawn Tree and Landscape Care helped to add one tree to the Mile High Million Tree Initiative for every 3 pointer scored by the Denver Nuggets. In this process KSE Charities also agreed to match each dollar donated. This season, The Denver Nuggets scored enough three pointers to raise $8400 for Mayor John Hickenlooper’s Mile High Million Tree initiative in hopes of planting one million trees in Denver by the year 2025.
Representatives included, Mayor John Hickenlooper, City of Denver; Sara Davis from the Million Tree Initiative, Thomas R Tolkacz, CEO and Larry Baird, Marketing Communications Manager from Swingle Lawn, Tree and Landscape Care.
MILE HIGH MILLION
During the 2006 annual State of the City address, Mayor John Hickenlooper announced an ambitious tree planting program with a goal of adding one million new trees in metropolitan Denver by the year 2025. The initiative aims to engage and motivate individuals to become life-long stewards of our natural environment through planting and caring for trees. The end result will be a healthier and more extensive urban forest, creating more inviting places to live, work and play.
SWINGLE TREES FOR THREES
During the 2009-10 Denver Nuggets season, at each home game, Swingle Lawn, Tree and Landscape Care will help add one tree to the Mile High Million Tree initiative for every three pointer scored by the Denver Nuggets.
Local CEO receives Lifetime Achievement Award from the green industry.
January 2009 - Tom Tolkacz, CEO of Swingle Lawn, Tree & Landscape Care received the Bob Cannon Award at the 2009 Excellence in Landscape Awards dinner for the Associated Landscape Contractors of Colorado (ALCC) at the Denver Center for the Performing Arts.
The Cannon award is ALCC’s version of the “Lifetime Achievement Award.” Established in 1978, it honors individuals who have given loyal, dedicated service to the landscape industry during their years of service, contributed ideas, programs and other endeavors to benefit other ALCC members and is recognized as someone who has improved the professional image of the landscape industry. The Cannon Award is awarded for long-time service, commitment and contribution to the landscape industry and ALCC.
“Tolkacz gave a powerful acceptance speech where he thanked all of the folks at Swingle, in addition to his family, friends and colleagues for their support and encouragement over the years. He also noted that individuals do not achieve great things without great people who have a similar passion for success,” said John Gibson, President of Swingle.
Jeff Oxley, Swingle’s Vice President of Operation said after the awards ceremony, "Everyone talked about how much passion Tolkacz has for our industry. He has given his time, energy and expertise in addition to monetary support while allowing his staff to volunteer their time, keeping the Green Industry apprised of all issues. Tolkacz has an arm's length of achievements not only at Swingle, but in the local and national arena of the green industry.
Swingle receives Corporate Recognition Award from Families First.
May 2009 - Families First presented its 2009 Outstanding Corporate Support Award to Swingle Lawn, Tree and Landscape Care at the Friends Spring Luncheon held at the Denver Country Club. Each year this award is given to a business that has shown its commitment to community involvement by supporting the work of Families First. Since 2006, Swingle has donated landscaping service to Families First including caring for lawn, bushes, trees, drainage and irrigations systems and creating a spectacular holiday light display at The Family Center each holiday season.
The award was accepted by Swingle’s CEO, Thomas R. Tolkacz. He concluded his remarks by saying, “The entire team at Swingle is truly honored and appreciative of being recognized by Families First. We believe in the vision of the guiding principles the founders and board of Families First have set forth and think helping just one child or twenty is worth our contribution, seeing that over 4,000 phone calls annually have been taken by Families First regarding support, tells us we are doing the right thing.”
Swingle celebrates Earth Day with students at Westridge Elementary School.
May 2009 - Planet’s (Professional Landcare Network) first annual “Day of Service” was held on Earth Day, April 22nd, 2009. The purpose of the event is to give members of the lawn and landscape industry an opportunity to plan, organize, and carry-out “green” projects that benefit their own communities.
Tom Martin, Jon Elliott and Keith McLachlan all from Swingle volunteered to participate in the “Day of Service” at Westridge. They helped the children plant 3 new trees at the school, provided by Jared's Garden Center at a steep discounted rate. Swingle's volunteers said it was nice to be a part of the children’s enthusiasm and to give back to the community by giving their time and donating all of the mulch for the event.
“We helped them install mulch rings around all the trees at the school, talked to children about the process of planting trees, how big the trees were going to get and answered all of their questions. These trees should live 75 to 100 years,” Martin said, adding that they’ll grow to be 40 to 50 feet tall. “Some of the kids were saying they’re excited to come back and see the trees in 30 years.”
Colorado Association of Lawn Care Professionals celebrates 20 years to green industry.
March 2008 - Thomas Tolkacz, Swingle’s CEO and John Gibson, Swingle’s President, proudly served as CALCP Presidents between 1990 – 1991 and 1995 – 1997 respectively. “The organization is a great benefit to our industry. It enhances the professionalism of Colorado's lawn care industry by providing education and services to its members and the general public. CALCP also serves as liaison between regulatory groups and the industry,” said Gibson.
Swingle participates in “GreenCare for Troops” to support Colorado military families.
May 2006 - Swingle Lawn, Tree & Landscape Care is participating in “GreenCare for Troops in Denver. “GreenCare for Troops” is a nationwide outreach program initiated by Project EverGreen that connects participating local lawn and landscape firms with families of the men and women away from home serving our country in the armed forces.
In announcing the new program, Thomas Tolkacz, CEO of Swingle said, “Lawn and landscape maintenance becomes a definite hardship when a family’s major breadwinner is on active duty away from home. The “GreenCare for Troops” program seeks to ease this stress by helping affected families with the important task of caring for their yard and landscape.”
When there is an opportunity to give back to our community, especially for all the brave men and women in our armed forces, we feel grateful to serve and lend a helping hand” says “John Gibson, Swingle’s President.
Swingle helps grieving family remove a tree that caused a fatality in freak snow storm.
October 2005 - Swingle Lawn, Tree & Landscape Care company removed an old cottonwood tree from the yard of Ginny McKibben,73, a former Denver Post reporter who died when a large limb weighted down by the snow broke away while she was shoveling snow under the large tree.
Since the October 10th snow storm, neighbors have rallied to encourage the city to remove the decayed, hollowed tree. The city determined it was not on their right-of-way and could not help. Swingle offered to cut it down gratuitously along with Frohlick Crane Service when Swingle received a call from the neighbors. Arborist Charley Wagner, a previous national climbing jamboree champion aided in the removal. “Due to the condition of the tree, we knew it should be removed and we donated our services to help the family during their time of grief and being unable to afford such a financial burden.” said Terry Schroder, Sales Manager of Swingle.
It was a bittersweet moment as a dozen neighbors and family members looked on while the tree was being cut down. “I think a lot of people came out just to say goodbye to the old cottonwood tree and to our friend and neighbor Ginny McKibben, said one of the neighbors while applauding Swingle’s generosity and efforts.
Christmas Décor By Swingle donates decorations to military family.
December 2005 - Colorado’s local franchise, Christmas Décor by Swingle, has selected Rachel Spencer’s family in an effort to bring some much needed holiday cheer to her and her three children. Rachel’s husband, Brian has been deployed in Iraq for four months now. Being his first deployment, it is especially difficult on his wife and three kids during these holidays. This is the first time Brian has been separated from his family, and in an effort to brighten up her home for the holidays, Rachel decided to write a letter to the “Decorated Families” program.
Rachel and Brian’s 3 children, Helena 5, Kaden 2, and Keira 1, miss their husband/daddy very much. All three children express their longing for their daddy in different ways. “My husband is our WORLD and it seems so empty here without him. My children have never been away from their daddy this long, and being so young they are having the hardest time” Says Rachel.
Rachel’s letter goes on and is truly a heart warming story about how her kids are sacrificing their Daddy to the American war on terrorism. Being so young they can’t understand why he is not home. Because of this, their family was selected by Christmas Décor and Swingle to bring the bright lights and magical spirit of Christmas into their home.
The Swingle Elves went to work and decorated the Spencer’s home with lights along the front fence railing, six front windows and back porch balcony railing. Swingle also installed an 8 foot cut tree graciously donated by Cherry Creek Tree Farms. Swingle installed the lights on the tree and provided all the trimmings for the tree along with the beautiful garland and lights for the home. The family was ecstatic as the holiday decorations went up. The children will have a merrier Christmas thanks to Christmas Décor’s “Decorated Families” program, Swingle Lawn, Tree & Landscape Care and Cherry Creek Tree Farms
“This gives Swingle an opportunity to support our troops and their families. We are very fortunate for the freedoms we have here in the United States. We hope that by providing Rachel and Brian’s family with holiday decorating, it will make their children’s holiday much brighter.” Say Jeff Oxley Swingle’s Vice President of Operations.
Swingle – Sinnamon Scholarship Fund @ Colorado State University
When John Swingle died in 1955, control transferred to Earl Sinnamon, a former Denver City Forester. Under Earl’s direction Swingle flourished as a company. It was Earl’s foresight that brought the company successfully into the 80’s. During his tenure Earl formed the scholarship fund at Colorado State University that still provides for students to this day.
- Scholarship fund was established in 1987, for students working toward a degree in the College of Agricultural Sciences with preference to students in ornamental horticulture.
- Current estimated endowment value = $200,000
- Has helped approximately 50 students at CSU since inception (4 students last year)
- No less than $2000 per student annually, up to full scholarship
