US: Svensson recognized for philanthropic efforts
Svensson’s functional climate screens are designed with insight for professional greenhouse operations around the world. Equally important to serving their customers is the need to support local schools and universities, providing access to outdoor learning classrooms to better educate students and create awareness on the concept of growing fruits, flowers and vegetables.
Svensson’s donation of shade screens and other climate control textiles have helped support hands-on, horticultural based education in local schools in the Charlotte area, many of which are classified as title one, low income schools where a large majority of the student population resides in a “food desert” with limited access to fresh fruits and vegetables. Beyond just donating products to school greenhouses and gardens, Svensson employees are committed to donating their time to help teach and inspire not only the students but also teachers.
"As a 130 year-old, fourth generation family business, we're already planning for the fifth generation to take over and we're already thinking about today's youth as the future leaders of tomorrow... it's enrooted in our DNA," says Mauricio Manotas, President of Ludvig Svensson's American subsidiary. "Through our textile climate solutions and support of greenhouse and gardening programs in schools in the local area, we're able to better help students see that tomato or pepper actually comes from a plant and not out of a can, or that flowers can be grown in the middle of winter even though it's below freezing outside... This shouldn't be a luxury but a right. It's our hope to help these students dream a little more and to aim a little higher, ultimately working together for a brighter future and we couldn't be more honored to receive this award."
The Charlotte International Cabinet and the Office of the Mayor have hosted the Mayor's International Community Awards (MICA) since 1998 to honor foreign-owned firms in the Charlotte region for outstanding contributions to philanthropy.