Photo: East Hartford Mayor, Parks and Recreation, and WeLoveU volunteers gather for a photo with the grant check at Emma and Nicholas DePietro Park on January 26, 2025, the future home of the pollinator gardens.

January 31, 2025

East Hartford, CT — The International WeLoveU Foundation (WeLoveU) has been awarded a $35,000 grant from the HDR Foundation to build two pollinator gardens at Emma and Nicholas DePietro Park. Starting in Spring 2025, the gardens will serve as vital habitats for bees, butterflies, and birds, addressing the decline in pollinator populations from habitat loss, pollution, and climate change. The initiative is part of WeLoveU’s Mom’s Garden Project to establish green spaces to better the planet and people.  

“The gardens will serve as an outdoor classroom for community members and schools, offering educational signage and environmental workshops,” explained Sophia Cinamella, HDR senior marketing coordinator and WeLoveU volunteer.  

The WeLoveU Foundation will enhance East Hartford’s park with educational and recreational activities, including potential school field trips, environmental workshops, and more green spaces for mental well-being. 

“We’re thrilled to have received this grant, which will help us create these pollinator gardens. They’re not just going to be beautiful spots for everyone to enjoy but also places where we can all learn more about taking care of our environment,” said Jessica LoGreco, program manager at WeLoveU. “This project really reflects our dedication to sustainability and the vision our founder had for a greener, more educated community.”  

The multi-phase project will be executed by volunteers of the WeLoveU Foundation, and there will be numerous opportunities for community involvement in planting trees and plants. To stay updated on this project and learn how you can participate, visit weloveuusa.org. 

About the Intl. WeLoveU Foundation   

Founder and Chairwoman Zahng Gil-jah established the International WeLoveU Foundation in 2001— which is associated with the United Nations Department of Global Communications (UN DGC) — as a vehicle to deliver a mother’s love to neighbors in need. The Chairwoman took a grassroots approach by personally interacting with and caring for the needs of people in her community and her efforts inspired the spirit of volunteerism into the hearts of many. Over the past two decades, WeLoveU has extended its reach to over 73 countries in 249 regions, impacting countless lives through initiatives spanning emergency relief, education, health, environment, and community well-being. With the dedication of over 300,000 volunteers worldwide, WeLoveU inspires a healthy and hopeful future for many. For more information, visit weloveuusa.org.     

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About the HDR Foundation   

The HDR Foundation provides grants to qualified organizations that align with HDR’s areas of expertise: education, healthy communities and environmental stewardship. As an employee-funded and employee-driven foundation, preference is given to organizations located in communities in which HDR employees live and work, and those with strong employee involvement. Since its inception, the HDR Foundation has provided more than $11.5 million in grants to over 350 organizations.