Students and staff at Chattanooga Girls Leadership Academy (CGLA) are returning from two weeks off to a revitalized school building and campus thanks to volunteer efforts from two major companies — Tennessee Valley Authority and Lowe’s Home Improvement.
During CGLA’s Fall Break and Intercession Week, employees from TVA and Lowe’s Store #749 in Hixson/Highway 153 contributed several hours of work on two separate projects.
As part of their Combined Federal Campaign Day of Caring, some TVA employees spent an entire day pruning trees and bushes across the campus while others cleared weeds and built four landscaping beds for the school’s Community Garden.
The highlight of work by our longtime corporate partners was the renovation of CGLA’s circular bench outside the entrance of the school. Several TVA workers replaced the old, weather-worn wood with pressure treated lumber.
Inside the building, eight employees from Lowe’s Hixson location volunteered on three days to paint hallways throughout the school. Several of the walls needed touch-up from the normal ‘wear and tear’ of children moving between classes. The store manager and employees gave their time as part of the Lowe’s Heroes program that helps schools and organizations with revitalization and restoration projects.
“Some studies have shown a correlation between clean schools and academic success,” said CGLA Executive Director Dr. Elaine Swafford. “The generous help from TVA and Lowe’s is definitely a boost to CGLA’s learning environment. Investments of this magnitude from community partners, such as these, take care of smaller yet important needs that allow us to experience positive academic and social successes within the learning community.”