MARYSVILLE, Ohio, Feb. 20, 2015 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- ScottsMiracle-Gro hosted two-time NASCAR Champion, Greg Biffle and Jack Roush, founder, CEO, and co-owner of Roush Fenway Racing at its GRO 1000 community garden event at Westside Elementary School in Daytona Beach, Fla. today. More than 600 students worked side-by-side with Biffle as they planted vegetables and herbs in six raised beds in the school's Early Act Garden.
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"We can't think of a better way to begin our yearlong partnership with Greg Biffle and Roush Fenway Racing than by going into the Daytona community together to help the students of Westside Elementary make their school a little greener," said Jim Hagedorn, Chairman and CEO, The ScottsMiracle-Gro Company. "Our goal through GRO 1000 is to educate more people about the benefits of urban gardening, especially in Daytona – a place that is very important to the racing community and to The ScottsMiracle-Gro Company."
The community event is part of The ScottsMiracle-Gro Company's GRO 1000 mission to create 1,000 community gardens and green spaces by 2018, the Company's 150th anniversary. ScottsMiracle-Gro was also joined at the event by local dignitaries including Lori M. Gillooly, Executive Director, Halifax Habitat for Humanity, Inc. and Deborah Zeoli, Executive Director, Stewart-Marchman-Act Foundation.
The pep rally was led by the Volusia County Schools Area Superintendent Vickie Presley, Chairman of the Volusia County School Board Linda Costello, Westside Elementary Principal Judy Winch and Scott's Hagedorn. The school was also presented with a check from The ScottsMiracle-Gro Company for $20,000 toward maintaining and growing the Early Act Garden. Biffle rallied the students and attendees at the end of the event by talking about the importance of teamwork and the excitement of the racing season.
"The GRO 1000 initiative is a great opportunity to build spirit, connect with local members of the community and help people of all ages express themselves on their own piece of the Earth," said Su Lok, Director, Corporate and Community Partnerships at The ScottsMiracle-Gro Company. "When people come together in a garden, or gather at a green space, something amazing happens – ScottsMiracle-Gro and GR0 1000 definitely saw something special come to life here today at Westside Elementary School."
Ortho®, a market leader in pest control since 1907, is the primary sponsor for Biffle's #16 Ford Fusion at Daytona and will debut a new car paint scheme showcasing a black and red "Ortho® Bug B Gon®" design.
For more information about GRO 1000, visit www.GRO1000.com .
About ScottsMiracle-Gro
With more than $2.8 billion in worldwide sales, The ScottsMiracle-Gro Company is the world's largest marketer of branded consumer products for lawn and garden care. The Company's brands are the most recognized in the industry. In the U.S., the Company's Scotts®, Miracle-Gro® and Ortho® brands are market-leading in their categories, as is the consumer Roundup® brand, which is marketed in North America and most of Europe exclusively by Scotts and owned by Monsanto. In the U.S., we operate Scotts LawnService®, the second largest residential lawn care service business. In Europe, the Company's brands include Weedol®, Pathclear®, Evergreen®, Levington®, Miracle-Gro® ®, KB®, Fertiligène® and Substral®. For additional information, visit us at www.scottsmiraclegro.com .
MEDIA CONTACT Neil Devries for Scotts Miracle-Gro and Ortho 810-955-3089
