30 Acts of Kindness in 2024
As many of you know, 2024 celebrated 30 Years of Ricci’s Landscape Management, Inc. As we celebrate this significant milestone, we are filled with gratitude for the incredible journey we’ve had over the past three decades. Dean and the RLM Team are forever thankful for the unwavering support from our clients, employees, vendors, and families that have been instrumental in our success. Each year has brought its own challenges and triumphs, and we are proud of the relationships we have built along the way. The dedication of the RLM Team and the loyalty of our clients have been the foundation for our growth.
To commemorate 30 years in business, RLM participated in 30 Acts of Kindness aimed at giving back to the Northwest Indiana community. Throughout the year, a diverse range of projects and donations were executed based on the insights and suggestions from our clients, employees, vendors, and their families. This initiative not only allowed us to celebrate our milestone, but also to strengthen our ties with the community we cherish.
We are so thankful for the opportunity to work on each project or offer donations, aiming to create a positive impact in the lives of those we support. Below, we have highlighted a selection of the initiatives we have undertaken, providing a glimpse into the meaningful work that has been accomplished.
Camp Lawrence
Camp Lawrence is a summer camp program located in Valparaiso, Indiana, for boys and girls ages 7-14. Camp Lawrence operates under the direction of the Catholic Youth Organization of Northwest Indiana and welcomes any child regardless of his or her religious background. They currently run for five weeks during the summer, each week with its own theme and unique activities.
To assist at the campgrounds, RLM upgraded the entrance sign by crafting new landscape beds and installing plantings. Additionally, we tackled some drainage problems near the cafeteria by relocating downspouts and constructing a cobblestone splash way.
Learn more about Camp Lawrence at https://www.cyocamplawrence.com/
Center for Possibilities
The Center for Possibilities is a school in Hobart, IN that offers day programs for adults with various needs and disabilities as well as a developmental preschool program for kids with special needs. This school is a not-for-profit that is fully funded by grants, private donors, and outside donations.
RLM’s team assisted in tidying up the area, redefining bed edges, and adding mulch in the outdoor area, which is utilized daily for various activities. The crew dedicated an entire day to enhance the space, allowing students to enjoy it during the pleasant summer months. In the fall, RLM returned to carry out Lawn Renovation work which included aerating, overseeding, and applying a soil treatment to develop a lush, well-rooted lawn. Project Summary with Dean
Learn more about Center for Possibilities at https://www.centerforpossibilities.org/
Coffee Creek Watershed
The Coffee Creek Preserve is maintained by the Coffee Creek Watershed Conservancy, Inc, whose mission is to identify, maintain, and enhance the remnant biodiversity that resides within the Preserve, while providing education and recreational experiences for all. The Preserve is a 157-acre complex of wetlands, woodlands, and prairies that connects trails throughout allowing visitors to experience and enjoy throughout their 5 miles of trails.
At the front entrances of the Coffee Creek Preserve, there is a pathway that is 3 feet wide and stretches between 300 and 400 feet. Our team worked on this path to repair the pavers, which will help improve the drainage system and prevent tripping hazards. This area sees a significant amount of pedestrian traffic daily, and now these walkways are not only more efficient, but also more visually appealing.
Learn more about Coffee Creek Watershed at https://www.coffeecreekpreserve.org/
Hilltop Neighborhood House
Hilltop Neighborhood House of Valparaiso, IN is a not-for-profit that empowers the community and strengthens families by providing a place to learn, grow, and belong. Each year they provide hundreds of children and their families with quality early childhood education, infant childcare, afterschool programs, supplemental food, and other resources they need to succeed. We feel strongly towards helping a place such as Hilltop, because we have a few employees that were directly positively impacted in their childhood by this organization.
Our crew was out at Hilltop Children’s Community Garden in Valparaiso to focus on some essential pruning, sign repair, and tree planting in the parkway. After taking the sign back to our shop for necessary repairs and a fresh coat of paint, we returned for a second visit to reinstall it. During this visit, we also added a landscape bed featuring a selection of new plantings to enhance the entrance sign area. Project Summary with Dean
Learn more about Hilltop Neighborhood House at https://hilltophouse.org/
Korean Veterans Memorial, part of the Veterans Memorial Parkway in Lake County, Indiana.
For this project, RLM teamed up with Niemeyer’s Landscape Supply on a very heartfelt project for the Korean Veterans Memorial, part of the Veterans Memorial Parkway in Lake County, Indiana. Working with Wayne Gruber of Niemeyer’s Landscape Supply, we worked to enhance the garden area, creating a beautiful and cohesive low-maintenance space dedicated to John Stacks, one of the pivotal figures behind the parkway’s vision. After John’s passing, his family chose to direct donations made in his name to the Veterans Memorial Parkway Commission. The commission decided to establish a small memorial for him. The project focused on using sustainable landscaping techniques that honor John’s legacy while ensuring the space remains vibrant and accessible for all visitors.
Our crew worked with Wayne at the site to reconstruct landscape beds, restore the lawn, and installed a collection of eco-friendly, sustainable plantings and decorative boulders, enhancing the area and honoring John Stacks. Project Summary with Nick and Wayne
Learn more about the Veterans Memorial Parkway at https://www.vetparkway.com/
Other projects and donations that were made include individual clients based on need, St. Matthias Church of Crown Point, Boone Grove High School Football Team, Crown Point High School Men’s Basketball Team, MAKS Kids Corp., Friends of St. Jude, Hebron Schools Athletic Department, Washington Township High School Yearbook, Hunkee Hollows Athletic Club, Lakeshore Paws, FOB #165 Cops for Kids, and the Lake of the Four Seasons Lions Club.
Dean Ricci Jr., and the Ricci’s Landscape Management Team are committed to making a positive impact in our community. Through the work and donations that took place this year, RLM celebrated 30 Years in business by proudly donating over $50,000. Our dedication to giving back is a core value that drives us to support the community that has supported us throughout the years. We look forward to continuing to provide exceptional landscape management services, and we are excited about what the future holds.
