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LUBBOCK,
TX -
Last winter’s holiday season, Christmas Decor, the
nation’s largest outdoor lighting and decorating franchise,
honored and celebrated men and women serving overseas by decorating
almost 100 homes as part of its, “Decorated
Family”, a program that gives an opportunity for us to thank
American servicemen and women for putting their lives on the line every
day and to help light up the lives of the families they needed to leave
behind.
This
4th of July, the Christmas Decor family of more than 375 franchisees is
reaching out to the American public, on the most patriotic day of the
year, to launch its biggest search yet to nominate families who have
loved ones that are or will be serving in the armed forces this winter
so they too can be eligible for the illuminating program. The company
is also proud to announce their partnership with Project
EverGreen’s GreenCare for Troops to help raise awareness and
money for their “Buck it Up” program.
“We want to decorate twice as many homes this year and I know
with America’s help we can make this dream into a
reality,” Blake Smith, founder of Christmas Decor said.
“Christmas Decor was built upon ideas of giving back.
Decorated Family was built upon those same beliefs. I am very proud of
our franchisees and their dedication to make this program such a
success across the country. Now we need America’s help to
nominate those families. While we cannot bring home a
family’s loved one from the war or serving overseas, we can
provide some holiday joy by decorating their home.”
Families are selected for “Decorated Family” from
those nominated via the “Decorated Families” link
on the Christmas Decor website, www.ChristmasDecor.net. There is a
brief application with an opportunity to write a 500 word essay
describing why the family being nominated should become a Christmas
Decor Decorated Family. Applications must be submitted online and
families will be awarded based on their proximity to a participating
Christmas Decor franchise and the impact of their story.
Once selected, the family will be contacted by a Christmas Decor
designer who will design a custom holiday display for their home and
suggest options to the family. Then a crew will install the decor prior
to December 15. At the end of the season, Christmas Decor will return
to the home and take down the display.
“I knew families would need some cheering up in the coming
months and since we are already in the business of lighting
people’s lives, it seemed like a no-brainer,” Bob
Landaker, branch manager of Christmas Decor of Kennewick, WA and Senske
Lawn & Tree Care, said.
Decorated Family first began as an idea. Landaker thought there had to
be a way for the franchise to give back to military families during the
holiday. Landaker recalls that a dinner gathering in 2003 got him into
the spirit of the holidays and made him think about the many military
families that wouldn’t be able to share a holiday dinner with
their soldiers that season.
This year, Christmas Decor has partnered with Project EverGreen, a
national, non-profit service organization, to raise awareness and money
for the GreenCare for Troops program called “Buck it Up for
Military Families”.
“Buck it Up” is a fundraising program to support
the nationally recognized GreenCare for Troops program which provides
free lawn and landscape services to families whose major breadwinner is
currently serving in active duty. A single dollar (or $5 or $10)
donation creates scholarships for military family members seeking a
career in the horticulture industry, increases infrastructure to better
handle the 8,000 military families and 2,200 volunteer participating in
the program, as well as enhances the free lawn and landscape services
currently provided.
“When we found out about GreenCare for Troops’
“Buck it Up” program we saw an opportunity to
create synergy between it and Decorated Family. Both programs are
devoted to military families and by joining forces we are able to
brighten lives throughout the year,” said Smith.
“Project EverGreen is excited to have Christmas Decor come on
board and partner with GreenCare for Troops’ “Buck
it Up” program,” said Den Gardner, executive
director of Project EverGreen. “The holidays are a time of
reflection and giving and we are confident that people interested in
the Decorated Family program will be eager to be a part of Project
EverGreen’s “Buck it Up”
program.”
About Christmas Decor
Founded by Blake Smith in 1986 in Lubbock, Texas, as a common-sense
solution to fill an off-season void and provide year-round work for
employees of his lawn care company Quality Lawn Care, Christmas Decor
quickly emerged as the company’s No. 1 overall profit center
– accounting for almost half its profits. Today, more than
375 Christmas Decor locations operate in 48 states and Canada with more
than 50,000 consumer and commercial customers, with plans to open
locations in more than 100 new markets through franchise expansion in
selective communities around the country. Christmas Decor was named one
of the Top Ten Home Improvement Franchises for 2008 by Entrepreneur
Magazine and AOL Small Business. In addition to sales of its famous
holiday decorating services, The Decor Group also offers the Nite Time
Decor franchise opportunity, a growing 30-unit concept built on
exterior landscape lighting services. For more information, visit http://www.christmasdecor.net.
About Project EverGreen
Headquartered in New Prague, Minn., Project EverGreen is a national
non-profit organization representing green industry service providers,
associations, suppliers/distributors, media companies and other
organizations. Project EverGreen's mission is to preserve and enhance
green space in our communities for today and future generations.
Project EverGreen is committed to informing the American public about
the positive effects of well-maintained green spaces, including lawns
and landscapes, sports turf, golf courses and parks. We want to inspire
you to get involved and get passionate about green spaces! For more
information, visit http://www.projectevergreen.com.
About GreenCare for
Troops
GreenCare for Troops is a nationwide outreach program coordinated by
Project EverGreen that connects local green industry professionals with
men and women serving our country in the armed forces away from home.
GreenCare is in the process of helping more than 2,200 volunteers
provide free lawn and landscape services for more than 8,000 military
families nationwide. The cost to manage the GreenCare for Troops
Program is underwritten by Cub Cadet Commercial. To sign up or
volunteer, please visit http://projectevergreen.com/gcft/.
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