Valdosta, Ga. – Phoenix Environmental Care LLC made a donation to the turfgrass pathology research program headed by John Kaminski, Ph.D., at the University of Connecticut.
“We have a board of advisors called ‘Friends of Phoenix’ which consist of several golf course superintendents,” says Owen Towne, president of Phoenix Environmental Care “The donation is based on the recommendation of that board. We are happy to do this because Dr. Kaminski’s work on anthracnose and other turf diseases is benefiting golf course superintendents far beyond the state of Connecticut.”
Towne says the contribution is a part of Phoenix Environmental Care’s ongoing commitment to giving back a portion of the company’s sales to organizations and universities that support the green industry.
“We’ve done this with groups like the Wee One foundation and others, and we will continue our company policy of giving back to the green industry,” he says.
“It’s great to have Phoenix supporting our efforts,” Kaminski says. “The money will be used to hire a summer technician to assist in all aspects of our turf pathology program. We continue to grow at a rapid pace, and our goal is to make a positive impact throughout New England. The funding they’ve provided will play a large role in accomplishing this.”
Recently, Kaminski was chosen to receive the Musser International Turfgrass Foundation Award of Excellence for 2005. A native of Upper Marlboro, Md., Kaminski earned a B.S. degree from Penn State University in 1998. He earned his M.S. and Ph.D. at the University of Maryland where his work involved the investigation of the biology of Ophiosphaerella agrostis and epidemiology of bentgrass dead spot.