ARA Foundation Completes Impact Project with The Toro Company, Donates $20,000 in Baltimore

The American Rental Association (ARA) Foundation and The Toro Company Foundation, in collaboration with the ARA of Maryland and the United Way of Central Maryland, hosted a volunteer project on July 28 that updated and enhanced the grounds at the United Way’s Family Center at Ben Franklin High School in Baltimore.

The Ben Franklin Family Center provides free, full-day childcare for parenting students, ensuring they don’t have to choose between completing their education and caring for their children. In addition, the Center offers enriching early childhood education for infants and toddlers, along with multigenerational support that addresses housing, food and other essential needs for families.

AAA Party Rentals, Bay Country Rentals, Carter Cat Rentals, Dreamers Event Rentals, Fred’s Tents, Holland Park Tents, InTENTional Systems, L & A Tent Rentals, The Matadore Equipment, Oxon Hill Rentals and Washington Air Compressor Rental Co. provided equipment and volunteers for a transformation of the outdoor spaces at the Center through a variety of hands-on improvement projects.

Crews removed and replaced landscaping along the facility’s perimeter, installed new privacy fence slats, planted bushes, enhanced the playground with new rubber safety surfacing and assembled new play equipment, creating a safer, more welcoming environment for children and families.

In addition to revitalizing the United Way’s Family Center at Ben Franklin High School property, The ARA Foundation presented a $20,000 grant for the organization to Franklyn Baker, president and CEO, United Way of Central Maryland. Baker commented on the average high school graduation success rate of the teen parents who utilize the Center’s services — nearly 80 percent compared to the national average of approximately 40 percent — and described the day’s project as “wraparound support” for the environment the Center provides. “It’s a journey,” Baker said of the Center’s mission, “and [the project’s volunteers] are helping us along this journey. From the bottom of my heart, I want to thank each and every one involved.”

“We are thankful for ARA and what they are providing for us — not just the monetary, but also the manpower to get this done,” said Beth Littrell, associate vice president of community engagement and volunteerism, United Way of Central Maryland. “This project is something that has been on my list for about five years; finally getting someone out here to do this is huge for us and it’s huge for the kiddos.”

Russ Hicks, owner/director of operations, AAA Party Rentals, Laurel, Md., who serves as ARA of Maryland vice president, said the project was a win for both the Center and participating volunteers. “As soon as you walk into the playground you can see and feel the difference that we’ve made here,” he said. “It’s become a much more inviting space for the children, and I think that’s what’s really exciting. It was a success for the volunteers, because they got a chance to come out and do something that they’re proud of. It was a success for the school, because they now have an improved playground facility, and a success for the children who will be able to utilize it — hopefully for years to come.”