Calusa Nature Center and Planetarium partners with Herc Rentals to make an impact on Earth Day

Community partners work together to support local organizations and clean the environment

group of people in yellow shirts in forest — Herc Rentals 2024 Earth Day Volunteers

Fort Myers, FL – Earth Day is celebrated around the world every year on April 22. The Calusa Nature Center and Planetarium, the leading environmental steward in Fort Myers, partnered with Herc Rentals, a leader in the equipment rental industry headquartered in Southwest Florida, to make an impact this Earth Day.

“It was such an amazing opportunity for us to partner with an industry leader like Herc Rentals,” states Calusa Nature Center and Planetarium Interim Executive Director Dr. Cindy Banyai. “One of our Trustees, Jeff Starrak, works for the company and connected us with their sustainability leaders to plan the volunteer day at the center.”

On Earth Day 2024, over 25 volunteers from Herc Rentals came to the Calusa Nature Center to work for the day. The volunteers removed invasive species, repaired signs, and cleaned the boardwalks and trails on the 105-acre greenspace.

“We are grateful to have partners like the Calusa Nature Center and value the environmental stewardship opportunities they offer our team to connect with the local community,” said Katie Leone, Sustainability Director at Herc Rentals. “We were proud to work with them as a component of our Earth Month efforts to build brighter futures across the communities where we operate in North America.”

The Calusa Nature Center and Planetarium hosts over 500 volunteers a year, including special workdays with companies and organizations like Herc Rentals. Volunteers take on special projects like building repair or work on the operations of the center, including animal care, trail maintenance, and facility upkeep. They provide thousands of service hours a year for students and individuals across Southwest Florida.

Dr. Cindy Banyai continues, “We appreciate our community partners like Herc Rentals and we welcome anyone that would like to volunteer with us to give back to the community and the environment.”

If you would like to donate to or volunteer with the Calusa Nature Center and Planetarium, please visit the ‘Get Involved’ tab on their website at CalusaNature.org.

The Calusa Nature Center & Planetarium has been a part of the Southwest Florida community for over 50 years. We are a 501(c)3 public charity dedicated to environmental education and preservation. Our mission, inspiring people to connect with nature, is accomplished by educating guests of all ages about our unique ecosystem and environmental issues. We provide holistic environmental education programs encompassing all areas including astronomy, ecology, zoology, and more. Our 105-acre site is home to many rescue animals, two nature trails, a planetarium theater, a bird aviary, a walk-through butterfly aviary, dozens of exhibits including terrariums, aquariums, dioramas and historical artifacts from both Earth and space.

About Herc Holdings Inc.

Founded in 1965, Herc Holdings Inc., which operates through its Herc Rentals Inc. subsidiary, is a full-line rental supplier with 412 locations across North America, and 2023 total revenues were approximately $3.3 billion. We offer products and services aimed at helping customers work more efficiently, effectively, and safely. Our classic fleet includes aerial, earthmoving, material handling, trucks and trailers, air compressors, compaction, and lighting equipment. Our ProSolutions® offering includes industry-specific, solutions-based services in tandem with power generation, climate control, remediation and restoration, pumps, and trench shorting equipment as well as our ProContractor professional grade tools. We employ approximately 7,600 employees, who equip our customers and communities to build a brighter future. Learn more at www.HercRentals.com and follow us on Instagram, Facebook and LinkedIn.