P Matt Bosher, LS Josh Harris and other volunteers helped in beautification efforts in Gordon-White Park as part of YP's Rise Up Atlanta community service.
P Matt Bosher leans on his shovel.
P Matt Bosher and LS Josh Harris work on a flower bed in Gordon-White Park.
P Matt Bosher
LS Josh Harris spreads pine needles around the plants.
P Matt Bosher plants flowers.
LS Josh Harris helps plant flowers.
P Matt Bosher works in a flower bed.
P Matt Bosher digs a hole to plant flowers.
Gordon-White Park, located in southwest Atlanta, saw a flurry of action Tuesday morning. Atlanta Falcons punter Matt Bosher and long snapper Josh Harris joined volunteers from Akamai Technologies and YP in the first of four Rise Up Atlanta community events happening this fall, sponsored by YP.
It wasn't a coincidence employees from Akamai Technologies were out at the event just two days before the anniversary of 9/11. They all donned matching grey t-shirts with "Danny Lewin" typed in orange on the back.
Thirty-one year-old Lewin was one of the founders of Akamai Technologies. He was on American Airlines Flight 11, which crashed into the north tower of the World Trade Center, the first of the two towers to be struck that morning, making him, the 91 passengers onboard with him, and countless of others inside the north tower, the first victims of Sept. 11, 2001.
"We're here to honor his memory and give back to the community," said Mike Sci, an Akamai employee.
With the help of YP and Hands On Atlanta, a large volunteer service organization, the Falcons are able to provide companies like Akamai Technologies, as well as members of the community, a chance to get out, give back, and make a difference in Atlanta.
Bosher, Harris, and the volunteers worked throughout the morning on two large flower beds at the north end of the park. They dug holes for rose bushes, spread sand on top of the dirt, and finished by laying pine straw down around the newly planted greenery.
While the final touches were being put on the main flower beds, a handful of volunteers, including Park Pride volunteer manager John Ahern, worked the garden surrounding the sign introducing the community, as well as those who visit, to Gordon-White Park.
"Projects like this … it creates that larger sense of community bringing even more people together," said Ahern.
And it did, quickly. Members of the community stopped by to say hi and thanked all involved for working to beautify the park.
Like the rest of the Falcons organization, both Harris and Bosher thoroughly enjoy giving back to the community. They say it's their way of making the community feel how they feel every Sunday in the Georgia Dome, supported and appreciated.
"Any chance I get to be able to show my appreciation and give back to them for what all they give us is very gratifying for me," Harris said.
The volunteers felt it. They enjoyed seeing the players be part of the community and get their hands dirty. It put them on their level, even for just a little while.
"It's good to see the Falcons coming here and showing their support and working with the community," said Sci. "It's nice to participate with them."
For more information and to sign up for Rise Up events, visit http://riseupatlanta.atlantafalcons.com.
