Walk to End Brain Tumors
W
hen it comes to tree care industry professions, a little hands-on
experience can go a long way.
This year, Illinois' Arlington Heights Garden Club hosted an annual
Garden Walk and Unique Boutique event to showcase some of the best
gardens in the community. Davey co-sponsored the event.
More than 500 people participated in the walk around town, which
featured 10 of the most radiant gardens in the area. Attendees also
participated in the Unique Boutique, a vendor fair featuring local
businesses' gardening crafts and tools.
Master Gardeners from the University of Illinois coordinated the
Ask-A-Gardener booth, where they answered gardening queries from
visitors. In the meantime, Ryan Sherman, sales arborist at the
Northeast Chicago R/C office, talked trees with event attendees—some
of which were clients within the area.
"A lot of people came out because it was such a beautiful day," Sherman
says. "Many of my clients were there and I was able to talk to them."
Sherman says it was a great opportunity to talk with clients
outside of the typical Davey work scene.
Ryan Sherman talks
trees at the Arlington Heights
Garden Club's annual Garden Walk.
Garden Walk Showcase
D
avey helped celebrate a fellow tree
lover's life by supporting the fifth
annual Pittsburgh Walk to End Brain Tumors.
Scott Simpson worked in the North Pittsburgh
R/C office for 25 years. Davey valued Simpson's
personality and work ethic, which allowed him
to quickly advance in the company.
A little more than four years ago, Simpson
passed away after developing a brain tumor. In
order to help other families from losing loved
ones from tumors and cancer, Simpson's wife
and three daughters (Becky Solesha, Katie
Scalise and Sara Watkins) researched ways to
contribute to the cause and discovered the
Pittsburgh Walk to End Brain Tumors.
Simpson's family created a Davey-sponsored
team called "Scott's Soldiers" to walk and
raise funds for brain tumor research and clinical
trials that insurance does not cover in the
Pittsburgh area.
"We had so much support and love on
this day, and that reflected how much people
loved my dad," Watkins says.
More than 65 people marched with bright
green Scott's Soldiers t-shirts, proud to
represent such a great man and father. Scott's
Soldiers raised $6,390, exceeding the family's
original goal of $5,000. They
placed second for total fund-
raising, out of the 43 teams.
September/October 2015 | 15
Scott Simpson, a beloved
Davey employee for 25
years, passed from a brain
tumor four years ago.
