Shady Grove is giving back to the community by volunteering our services to the Ovie Mughelli Foundation. Here’s the story:

Ron Clark Academy Holds Groundbreaking Ceremony for Green Playground

Atlanta Falcons Ovie Mughelli, Eco-Athlete and Founder of the Ovie Mughelli Foundation, Donates Environmentally-Responsible Recreation Area

ATLANTA – December 10, 2010 – The Ovie Mughelli Foundation has reached its most significant milestone to-date as the responsible party for donating an earth-friendly playground and athletic field for the students of Ron Clark Academy (RCA).

Atlanta Falcons Ovie Mughelli, Eco-Athlete and Founder of the Ovie Mughelli Foundation, Donates Environmentally-Responsible Recreation Area

ATLANTA – December 10, 2010 – The Ovie Mughelli Foundation has reached its most significant milestone to-date as the responsible party for donating an earth-friendly playground and athletic field for the students of Ron Clark Academy (RCA).

The groundbreaking ceremony for this playground will take place at RCA on Tuesday, December 14, 2010, at 11:30am Eastern. The address is 228 Margaret Street Southeast, Atlanta. At a time when the prevalence of childhood obesity is at its highest, together RCA and the Ovie Mughelli Foundation will address the physical education needs to combine with the already rigorous academic curriculum of the Academy.

Ron Clark, the Ovie Mughelli Foundation, school executives, and several of the school’s largest donors will attend the groundbreaking ceremony. Clark and Mughelli are expected to speak and following will be the outlining of plans for the playground.

Ovie Mughelli is the Atlanta Falcons starting fullback, and he is also rated the #2 Eco-Athlete in the world by Planet Green.com. Ron Clark has been called “America’s Educator,” is a New York Times bestselling author, and his teaching experiences have been the subject of the uplifting film, The Ron Clark Story, starring Matthew Perry.

Consistent with the Ovie Mughelli Foundation’s environmental responsibility, the playground will be a “Green” facility, including NewGrass®, an industry-leading, artificial grass solution. Shady Grove Landscaping Company is the on-site construction manager of the project, and there are a couple dozen volunteers assigned to the project as well. The playground is scheduled for completion in the summer 2011.

“The Playground is part of a larger movement to do what we can to revitalize our planet,” says Ovie Mughelli. We want to help our future generation make the practical lifestyle changes to be more environmentally-conscious and give them the resources to do so.”

“The Ron Clark Academy couldn’t be more thrilled with the donation of our new athletic field, and we are extremely grateful to the Ovie Mughelli Foundation for recognizing the importance of keeping our young people healthy and physically fit. This field will enhance our athletic programs at RCA in enormous ways, and we are honored the donation is coming from Ovie Mughelli – a role-model that makes the Falcons and all of  Atlanta proud.”