Waco, Texas (November 19, 2012) The Grounds Guys across North America came together to give the gift of togetherness in honor of Monika Day on Nov. 8, 2012. Throughout the U.S. and Canada, the franchises donated their time, services and household products valuing over $30,000.
In 1987, Tim van Stralen and his nine brothers established a landscaping and lawn care company called Sunshine Grounds Care in Ontario, Canada. In 2009, the brothers partnered with The Dwyer Group® to create The Grounds Guys.
The van Stralen family suffered the tragic loss of their beloved sister, Monika Woerlen, and her seven children on Nov. 8, 2004. “Monika Day is a day for us to go out and share our Culture of CARE on a grand scale, from coast to coast,” said Peter van Stralen, founding member of The Grounds Guys. “The purpose of this day is to touch as many lives as possible, to turn a day of tragedy – a day of sadness, a day of mourning – into a day of happiness and giving, a day of turning lives around. When you put smiles on people’s faces, you take their mind off the troubles they’re going through, and you help them to heal. That’s really what this is all about.”
In commemoration of Monika Woerlen and her children, Nov. 8 has been dedicated as Monika Day--a day to give back to families in need. The Grounds Guys volunteered to revitalize local Ronald McDonald House, install holiday lights, in some cases the first time the house has had holiday lighting, and donate to help local families living at the houses.
RMHC serves families and children at 73 percent of the most prestigious Children’s Hospitals worldwide. RMHC family-centered programs like the Ronald McDonald House® provide a comfortable “home away from home” for families so they can be near their children during their hospital stay.
With strength in numbers, John Deere and John Deere Landscapes offered to assist The Grounds Guys by donating equipment and supplies, along with their own time to serve local Ronald McDonald Houses across the US.
“I find great honor in working for an organization that takes the initiative to help those who are less fortunate,” said Ron Madera, President of The Grounds Guys, LLC. “The Ronald McDonald House is a superior program, and The Grounds Guys is privileged to volunteer and donate to a great cause.”
To learn more about Monika Woerlen and her family visit www.MonikaDay.com.