Stephen Kalb-Koenigsfeld, Thriving Nonprofit Coordinator, Red Lodge Area Community Foundation
Established in 2012 by Pro Cut Lawn and Landscape, the Green Fund has given more than $11,000 in
cash and in-kind services to ‘green’ projects in the community. For its sixth year, the Green Fund
continued its collaboration with the Red Lodge High School Green Team. This partnership gave
students the opportunity to become philanthropists – weighing and leveraging resources to make a
large ‘green’ impact in our community.
The Pro Cut team and the High School Green Team received six applications seeking $5,500 in
funding. After careful discussion with members of both the Pro Cut and High School Green Teams,
they funded the following organizations for a total of $1,000:
• Yellowstone Wildlife Sanctuary, $500: Funds will be used to plant six Aspen, Mountain Ash and
Chokecherry tree. The total cost of the project was more than $1,000, but because of donated
efforts by Pro Cut, nearly the entire project will be able to be completed.
• Red Lodge Recycle, $500: Funds will go toward purchasing a forklift. The forklift will allow
safer working conditions for those at the recycling center, because now, it’s difficult to retrieve
baled items form the baling machine. A forklift will also help move pallets of recyclables from the
shop to the yard, which is now very difficult with a pallet jack over gravel and snow.
Ava Graham, member of the Red Lodge High School Green Team, shared this about her experience of
working with Pro Cut Lawn and Landscape to review grant applications, “While being a part of the
RLHS Green Team, it has been easy to learn the scale on which you can make an impact in the
community and bring attention to certain issues, especially when they involve a green initiative.”
Stay tuned throughout the summer to learn about the incredible impacts these projects are having in
the community. To learn more about the Pro Cut Green Fund or to get involved, visit www.rlacf.org
or contact stephenk@rlacf.org or call 406-446-2820.