Silver Star takes its commitment to serving its communities seriously dedicating hundreds of hours to community service efforts. From Silver Star sponsored community events to hosting four adopt-a-highway sections to actual service projects, Silver Star is a big supporter of our local communities.
Silver Star Sponsored Community Events
Swift Creek Run, Afton, WY
New in 2009 Silver Star became a co-sponsor with the Town of Afton for the annual Swift Creek Run. From registering runners to shuttling race participants up the canyon before the start, employees prepared for the 90+ person event. Others assisted with traffic and race control management, timing and cheering on the racers. Silver Star employee, Ashley Brown, stated “The race had close to 100 participants ranging from 5 to 70 in age! The top runner was Trevor Ricks with 15:52 in the age group of 13 to 19. All runners had a great time and it was awesome to see them push themselves across the finish line. The youngest participant, Preston Buehler, was only five.” Brown went on to say that “Everyone from our team and all of the participants had a great time, and everyone mingled and laughed after the race -- what a great morning it was!”
7th Annual Spring Clean Up, Driggs, ID
For seven years now, Silver Star has been the proud sponsor and creator of the Spring Clean-Up in Driggs. The event has evolved over the years to now include other organizations, including the City of Driggs and the Community Foundation of Teton Valley. Silver Star and the City of Driggs now co-sponsor the Teton Valley Celebration, which includes the clean-up, music, lunch, and an Arbor Day celebration. This event takes place each May. Non-profits are encouraged to participate with an incentive to earn a $500 grant funded by Silver Star and the Community Foundation of Teton Valley awarded to the non-profit with the most participants.
Silver Star Non-Profit Participation
- Rotary Club of Star Valley Member
- Rotary Club of Teton Valley Member
- Teton Valley Chamber of Commerce Member
- Star Valley Chamber of Commerce Member
- Jackson Hole Chamber of Commerce Member
- Yellowstone Business Partnership Member
- Teton Valley Trails & Pathways Member
2010's Community Service Projects
Lion's Park, Driggs, ID
On August 26, 2010 a team from Silver Star Communications descended on Lions Park with gloves, paintbrushes and hammers in hand to complete a beautification service project. The Silver Star team of seven set to work pulling off the old backstop boards and replacing them with new ones that the City of Driggs supplied, placing safety shields on top of the fences to protect people from injury, sanding and painting the Lion’s Park sign and the benches. We all had an enjoyable time doing this project for the City of Driggs.
Bedford Park, Bedford, WY
As a part of Silver Star Communications’ ongoing commitment to community, this service team spent a full summer day cleaning and painting the picnic shelter and tables in Bedford. The team members also repaired benches and treated the bleachers. Special thanks to the Bedford LDS ward for supplying the paint and Silver Star team members for their hard work.
Box H Park
This community service team began their project at dawn with members tackling several areas, including power washing, scraping and applying a fresh coat of paint to the grandstands; installing new railroad ties and pea gravel in the playground area; dragging the baseball field and setting the bases; painting the basketball backboards; fixing the rope on flag pole; and cleaning up the area and hauling away lots of debris. These activities coincided with Fairview’s Annual Community Picnic; however, community residents will benefit from these improvements to the park for years to come.
Cottonwood Campground
Squaw Creek
Silver Star team members chose to improve the Squaw Creek trail in the North Grays River area, with a goal of repairing the road and cleaning up the trail so it could be used again. The Silver Star team began at the bottom of the trail, removing large rocks and grooming the trail. Large boulders were deposited by backhoe at the access points of unauthorized trails to encourage proper use of the road. A backhoe was also used to dig out the muddy washed out section, and then transport rock from the bottom of the trail back to the top. The team proceeded to create a “French Drain” allowing the natural springs and rainfall to flow through the road without disturbing it.
Teton River, Driggs, ID
The Silver Star team spent a day working under the guidance of FTR Restoration Director, Mike Lien. After the project was completed Lien commented, “Silver Star was a not only a great team to work with, they helped to provide a critical component of vegetation for the project and needed funding match. Their efforts will go a long ways in restoring valuable Yellowstone cutthroat trout habitat on Trail Creek!” This physically demanding project took plan on an unusually warm summer day and the group cut and trimmed 1035 willow shoots. This project saved FTR approximately $2 per shoot and also made the organization eligible for matching grants.
5th Street Skate Park and Bike Tail, Driggs, ID
Late this summer, a Silver Star Communications service team joined forces with the City of Driggs and a couple of determined volunteers to shape up the Fifth Street park. The primary community service project included reshaping the beginnings of the BMX track that had been put in by volunteers led by Tim Dipple and Scott Smith. The Silver Star team, joined by Mayor Dan Powers, moved a large quantity of rocks from the track to prevent injuries of riders. They then raked and helped to shape the track at the direction of Dipple and Smith, both experienced in building BMX tracks. Additionally, the group cleaned up trash along the pathway in the park and removed a large amount of debris from the Frisbee Golf Park making it a safer area to navigate.
2009's Community Service Projects
US Veteran Gravestone Beautification, Victor, ID
“The highlight was actually being a part of something as important as taking care of our Veterans. Some stones were overgrown and uncared for. We were able to remove the grass and weeds and bring them the respect they deserve. We also received a lot of appreciative remarks from families who were visiting relatives. We had incredible team work. Once we had a system, we all became a well oiled machine.” ---Silver Star Team Member
Ruby Carson Memorial Park Beautification, Tetonia, ID
“We power washed and painted the picnic tables, dugout benches and post’s surrounding the monument and landscaped two garden areas, digging up the grass around the monument, trimming the junipers, and spreading bark. It was fun working with the team to accomplish a project that helped beautify the city.” ---Silver Star Team Member
Cotton Wood Trail Project, Smoot, WY
“We split up into two groups of four, put our bug spray and sunscreen on then set out with our shovels, picks, garden tools, chain saw and trash bags and went up and down, several of the trails and picked up anything that was in the way, we moved some of the big rocks and tree branches, we cut any bushes or trees that were hanging over in the way, picked up any trash and of course enjoyed hiking, and hiking and some more hiking . We then enjoyed a team lunch by the lake and talked about our success.” ---Silver Star Team Member
Fire Department Fencing, Swan Valley, ID
“The team work and great cooperation displayed in completing this project brought forth the strength of Silver Star Communications’ core values and commitment to community values. Each of those individuals is truly a credit to your organization.” ---Swan Valley Fire Chief
Bridge Campground Project, Alpine, WY
“The main purpose of this project was to turn this campground into a day use area where successful kayakers can exit the river. This is also a great picnic area with four tables and fire pits just a short drive from the downtown shopping district of Alpine.” ---Silver Star Team Member
Teton Kindergarten Playscape, Driggs, ID
“We would not have been able to have the playscape ready for the first day of school without your help!” She went on to say “Silver Star and its employees are real gems in this community. Thank you for all you do to make Teton Valley a great place to call home.” --- Education Foundation’s Executive Director
Turning Point Safe House Moving Project, Afton, WY
“This wasn’t the normal workday for some of these office workers, but with the sore muscles came a warm heart.” ---Silver Star Team Member
Snow Shoe Hollow Cabin Renovation, Afton, WY
“The group was excited with the result of their hard work. All of the improvements to the cabin will surely be of benefit to the community members who use this winter activity center.” ---Silver Star Team Member
Clothing Drive, Thayne, WY
“It was nice to see that people who needed to get some extra clothing for their children and themselves had the chance to pick up some gently used free clothing. Some kids that came to the event not only found some great school clothes, but found a lot of cool clothes to play dress-up with.” ---Silver Star Team Member