Eli Lilly Partners With Keep Indianapolis Beautiful

In an effort to engage a large percentage of their employees in a major beautification project, Eli Lilly and Company has formed a partnership with Keep Indianapolis Beautiful to make a major impact on the city of Indianapolis.  Their goal is a team-oriented activity that makes a mark on the city of Indianapolis and gives their employees a greater sense of pride and engagement in their community.

The 2011 Day of Service Focuses on Healthy Outdoor Living

Thousands of volunteers from Eli Lilly and Company (NYSE: LLY) worked from dawn to dusk on Thursday, Oct. 6, with Keep Indianapolis Beautiful, Inc. (KIB), and 30 partner organizations to revitalize four Indianapolis corridors during the 2011 Lilly Global Day of Service.

From East 10th Street to Riverside Park and Massachusetts Avenue to the White River Trail, 46 simultaneous projects  promoted healthy outdoor living by improving community spaces. With the help of thousands of volunteers, and more than 30 partner organizations, neighborhoods on the near eastside and near westside, as well as the Lafayette Square area and Massachusetts Avenue were the focus points of the single-day volunteer event.

46 projects in one day!

• 3,066 trees planted, at 22 different tree planting locations

• 18,450 perennials and shrubs, at 12 different planting locations

• 723 yards of mulch, approximately 70 dump truck loads

• Over 14,000 square feet of murals, over 500 gallons of paint

click here for a complete listing of all projects

Lilly’s Global Day of Service in Indianapolis represents powerful community collaboration. It brings together 30 organizations, private companies and government agencies working together to improve our city. Project partners for Healthy Outdoor Living include: 2012 Indianapolis Super Bowl Host Committee, Alzheimer’s Association, American Cancer Society, American Heart Association, American Red Cross, Arts Council of Indianapolis, Big Car, John H. Boner Community Center, Brehob Nursery, Inc., Cardno JFNew, Community Health Network, Department of Public Works, East 10th Street Civic Association, Habitat for Humanity, Indiana Sign & Barricade, INDOT, Indy-east Asset Development, Indy Parks & Recreation, Interfaith Hunger Initiative, Keep Indianapolis Beautiful, Inc., Lafayette Square Area Coalition, Lowe’s Home Improvement, Marian University, Massachusetts Avenue Merchant’s Association, The Mayor’s Office, Riley Area Development Corporation, Sherwin-Williams, Sunbelt Rentals, West Indy Development Corporation and Wright Tree Service.

This partnership began in 2008 when Lilly engaged more than 7,500 volunteers in service. Through work at over 50 projects throughout Indianapolis, over 30,000 hours of service was completed in just one day. The results from this day were amazing with almost 2,000 trees planted, 18 school grounds enhanced and a half-mile of public murals created just to name a few.

While hard to believe, 2009 brought an even bigger Lilly Day of Service with over 8,800 employees participating at once again more than 50 projects.  Highlights including the beautification of Interstate 70 at Holt Road, Indy Parks enhanced and additional public murals created. Over 2,500 trees and 70,000 plants were installed on this one day!

Then, in 2010 KIB, Lilly, the Indiana Department of Transportation and surrounding neighborhoods joined forces to transform a six-mile stretch of I-70,  A Greener Welcome--a project 30 years in the making was made a reality! 9,000 volunteers (8,500 Lilly volunteers and 500 volunteers from interchange adopter companies) worked along I-70, from the airport to downtown, on October 7. They planted 1,600 trees and more than 72,000 perennials and shrubs, all in one day!

PUBLIC ART IS HERE!

In mid November 2010 the public art installation began along I-70. Art was installed at the intersections near Harding and West Street; the remainder of the pieces are set to be completed and installed in the Spring of 2011.

• TOTEMS: 28 of the 60 totems constructed by an MFA Sculptor at the Herron School of Art, Jason Bord were installed,  the 9 and 13 foot totems will dot the landscape along the Harding Street interchange.
• LOTUS LEAVES: 9 brightly colored lotus leaves were placed at the West Street interchange, created by, Shi-Fen Liu, MFA Sculptor at the Herron School of Art.
• RNA STRAND: Coming the Spring of 2011 to the Meridian Street interchange!

CHECK OUT THE PROGRESS SO FAR!