TIAA-CREF, National Wildlife Federation cultivate good will in school garden project

The National Wildlife Federation teamed up with TIAA-CREF employees to help students build a garden at Pine Lane Elementary School in Parker. Photo by Kam Sullivan/NWF

The National Wildlife Federation’s regional office recently teamed up with TIAA-CREF to expand a Douglas County grade school’s garden.

TIAA-CREF chose to work with National Wildlife Federation on Pine Lane Elementary School’s garden project for one of its 2015 employee service days. The employees and members of NWF’s Rocky Mountain Regional Center staff helped teacher Margaret Condron, her students and parents build a new 30-foot-by-30-foot garden.

“On behalf of TIAA-CREF, it was our pleasure to be out there with you all, have a chance to see Pine Lane Elementary School and build an educational tool that will serve students hopefully for years to come,” said Adeeb Khan, TIAA-CREF’s Director of Corporate Responsibility.

Condron said the Parker school’s staff, students and parents were grateful for the help in achieving the milestone. The larger garden that was built will be a vegetable garden for the school, and the smaller existing garden will serve as a pollinator garden for native bumblebees, solitary bees, butterflies, hummingbirds and other local wildlife.

“Everyone was excited but once they saw the work accomplished in such a short time, there was even more buzz.  (That) evening we had an event at the school and there was lots of talk about the garden, how much larger it is, the big impact it will have on the kids. We are truly grateful,” Condron said.

The NWF staff was thankful for the help from TIAA-CREF employees in its work to connect kids with nature, said Kamla Sullivan, the organization’s regional outreach education coordinator.

“One of the National Wildlife Federation’s key goals is to foster appreciation of the outdoors and wildlife among children and families and give children opportunities to learn about nature hands-on,” Sullivan said.

The National Wildlife Federation works with schools to develop outdoor learning and environmental education through its Schoolyard Habitats and Eco-Schools programs.

TIAA-CREF  is a national financial services organization and is the leading provider of retirement services in the academic, research, medical and cultural fields.