Republic Services Honors Memory of Beloved Teacher Katie Woodie with New Outdoor STEAM Learning Center
$120,000 donation to accelerate STEAM learning programs for students and teachers
Republic Services is partnering with the Miss Katie Woodie Foundation to jumpstart STEAM learning at Walter Hill Elementary School in Rutherford County in memory of a beloved schoolteacher who passed away in 2020. Last year, Republic Services announced a $120,000 National Neighborhood Promise® grant through the company’s Charitable Foundation to be gifted to the Miss Katie Woodie Foundation. This donation was used to support STEAM-focused education programs at Walter Hill, and specifically to construct an outdoor classroom for teachers and students.
The official ribbon-cutting for the outdoor STEAM classroom will be held on Saturday, August 17, at 9 a.m. and will be immediately followed by a Day of Service dedicated to beautifying the grounds of the elementary school. Walter Hill Elementary is a fixture of the community, having just celebrated its 100th anniversary on August 10. Volunteers in attendance include Katie Woodie’s parents and family friends, team members of Republic Services, Rutherford County Commissioners, and Walter Hill staff.
“This year is Walter Hill’s 100th anniversary, and we can think of no better way to celebrate it than with a partnership that underscores this community’s commitment to its teachers and students,” said Mike Classen, general manager at Middle Point Landfill in Walter Hill. “This learning center will have generational impact, much like the life of the teacher it honors. We, as a company and business in this area, are incredibly grateful for the opportunity to partner with the Miss Katie Woodie Foundation and make this vision a reality.”
“We are grateful for the generosity of Republic Services and their collective mission with the Miss Katie Woodie Foundation to empower our teachers and students and enhance our STEAM learning programs,” said Laura Heath, Principal of Walter Hill Elementary School. “This is a milestone year for our school, and we recognize the businesses in our community, including Middle Point Landfill, that continue to support us year after year, and remain valuable partners and neighbors.”
“To those who knew Katie, she was a tremendously caring and gifted teacher who wanted nothing more than to serve her students and her community,” said Michelle Lovely, senior vice president of Development and Donor Services at The Dayton Foundation. “Losing a loved one is an unimaginable tragedy. Thanks to her family, who established the Miss Katie Woodie Foundation through The Dayton Foundation, and this generous gift from Republic Services, her legacy will live on and help realize the dream to create an outdoor reading environment for students and staff at Walter Hill Elementary. On behalf of Katie’s family and The Dayton Foundation, we sincerely thank Republic Services for this wonderful gift.”
About the Republic Services Charitable Foundation
The Republic Services Charitable Foundation helps strengthen the communities where Republic Services customers and employees live and work through volunteerism, monetary donations and in-kind services. Through its National Neighborhood Promise® Program, the Foundation supports nonprofit organizations, programs and projects that help promote sustainable neighborhoods. The Foundation helps support Republic Services’ 2030 Sustainability Goal to create sustainable neighborhoods through strong community partnerships for 45 million people. RepublicServices.com/sustainability/communities
About Republic Services
Republic Services, Inc. is a leader in the environmental services industry. Through its subsidiaries, the Company provides customers with the most complete set of products and services, including recycling, solid waste, special waste, hazardous waste and field services. Republic’s industry-leading commitments to advance circularity and support decarbonization are helping deliver on its vision to partner with customers to create a more sustainable world. RepublicServices.com.
About The Miss Katie Woodie Foundation
Founded in 2021, The Miss Katie Woodie Foundation was created to continue Miss Woodie’s legacy of loving generosity. The goal of the foundation is to lessen the financial burden on teachers for classroom essentials and provides schools with items that facilitate learning and fun. The foundation is focused on supporting teachers, students and schools alike.
