You may have already noticed a brighter, more upbeat look outside at the Arts Center, with colorful spring flowers, manicured shrubs, and the welcoming demeanor of a well-groomed landscape. That is thanks to the generous donation of plant material and labor from our newest Platinum Business Partner, The Greenery, Inc. The locally based, employee-owned garden center and landscape maintenance firm began the project in late February, revitalizing the entire grounds, and cleaning and prepping flower beds for a burst of seasonal color. And, that’s just the beginning of the transformation. The Greenery will be providing the Arts Center regular weekly maintenacne plus seasonasl changes in flowers, planting beds, fresh pine straw and plantings around the front signage.
Kathleen P. Bateson, CEO/President of the Arts Center, said, “We are thrilled to welcome The Greenery to our Business Partner family, and thank them for this generous donation of landscape materials... not to mention an abundant amount of hard work.”
The Greenery’s CEO, Lee Edwards commented, “We can’t imagine this community without the Arts Center. We truly appreciate the vital cultural enrichment the Arts Center gives to the Lowcountry, and we are delighted to give back.”
The founders of the Greenery, Inc. are no stranger to donating an immeasurable amount of time, energy, and resources to our organization. Ruthie and Berry Edwards have been donors and supporters of the Arts Center since its inception. The tireless and effervescent Ruthie Edwards was a prior chair of the Wine Auction Gala, a member of the Board of Trustees, and the chair of the Arts Now! Capital Campaign. It’s no surprise that she’s incolced once gain in the 2016 Wine Auction Gala!
The history of The Greenery, Inc. began in 1973 when Ruthie and Berry Edwards bought a small landscape nursery with just six employees and a couple of old pickup trucks. The company consistently grew with our thriving community on Hilton Head ISland and off-island for residents, plantations and other commercial businesses. Today, they have over450 highly motivated employees, professional horticulturalists, and experienced managers that work in residental, commercial and retail divisions.
When Berry was ready to retire, his desire was to see the company continue to grow through the long time efforts of its employees. Shortly over a decade ago, The Greenery, Inc. became an Employee Owned corporation. They strive to inspire employees to work together as one — encouraging every individual to take ownership in everything they do.
This philosophy of nurturing growth is also reflected back into the community. Accordin to CEO, Lee Edwards (Ruthie and Berry’s son), “The act of reinvesting your time and talents into your community provides extraordinary benefits, and makes this area a far greater place to live and raise our families. That’s why the employee owners of The Greenery, Inc. are willing to give their time and energy to organizations like the Arts Center.“
We are excited and grateful to have their support at the Arts Center, and hope that you’ll join us in showing our gratitude. Their life-long commitment to their business and the community has helped The Greenery, Inc. grow into one of the largest and most highly respected landscaping companies in the Southeast. The Greenery is now celebrating over 40 years of service to the area. Thank you for making a difference in our community!
To find out more, visit TheGreeneryInc.com