At Stay Green, giving back to the families who make our work possible is part of who we are. This summer, we hosted our 2nd Annual Back to School Family Event! A day filled with food, fun, and servant leadership, designed to honor and support the people at the heart of our communities.
Across four locations, Riverside, Gardena, Sun Valley, and Santa Clarita — more than 170 students and 100 families joined us for breakfast, games, and backpacks filled with school supplies to help them start the year strong.
Fueling Families, Building Community
The morning began with a hearty breakfast of pancakes, chorizo burritos, sausage, fruit, juice, and coffee. Our operations team rolled up their sleeves to cook and serve, living out Stay Green’s values of respect and appreciation in every plate they handed across the table.
“I gave the Stay Green cooks a 100 out of 10!” shared Yunidia, age 12 from Santa Clarita.
Backpacks, Supplies, and Smiles
Every student — from Pre-K through college — left with a backpack stocked with notebooks, crayons, pencils, highlighters, folders, and more. These small essentials make a big impact, giving families peace of mind and setting students up for success.
“I liked the pancakes and picking out my backpack the best,” said Jordan, age 5 from South Bay.
Fun, Games, and Adventure Time
Beyond breakfast and supplies, families enjoyed games, raffles, bubbles, and a scavenger hunt called Adventure Time. Kids shared jokes with managers, gave high fives to teammates, and discovered fun facts about Stay Green employees.
“My favorite part of the day was being able to share it with my Grandma,” said Tyler, age 8 from Santa Clarita.
Growing Together
Last year, we launched our Keep Going, Keep Growing Report Card Program, which recognizes students for achievements like attendance awards and good citizenship. When notified, Stay Green responds with prizes, gift cards, and notes of encouragement — extending our support beyond the event and into the school year.
Why It Matters
This annual event is about more than backpacks and pancakes. It’s about honoring families, showing appreciation, and creating moments of connection that reflect the culture we’re proud of at Stay Green. When we invest in our people (employees and their families) we build a stronger, more resilient community.
We’re grateful to everyone who made this year’s event possible, from the culture crew who organized it to the operations team who cooked and cleaned. And most of all, we’re thankful for the families who let us be a small part of their back-to-school journey.
We can’t wait to do it again next year and to watch the Stay Green family, and the students we support, continue to grow.