There’s something special about getting your hands dirty for a good cause. For the team at RET, what started as a simple Earth Day volunteer effort three years ago has blossomed into a beloved tradition that strengthens both their community and their bonds as colleagues.
A Perfect Fit
“It is great to get out in the community and help out,” explains RET PT’s Regional Director, Tawny Bridge-Pope. RET PT is a healthcare clinic with a large footprint across Western Washington. “We like to spend time together outside of the clinic and enjoy being active, so it was a perfect fit.”
The journey began when the team decided they wanted to celebrate Earth Day in a meaningful way. Thanks to RET PT administrative assistant, Soledad Burnham, who took the initiative to research volunteer opportunities, RET found the perfect outlet for their community spirit.
Today, RET Cares—their volunteer program—organizes multiple events throughout the year, and park clean-ups have become a cornerstone of their efforts.
For RET, these volunteer efforts aren’t separate from their core mission — they’re an extension of it.
This outreach embodies several of Confluent Health and RET’s core values: serve with passion, do what’s right, and have fun.
Rolling Up Their Sleeves
Every year on a Saturday morning, RET team members gather at parks throughout their service area. With such a significant presence in Western Washington, they’ve expanded to volunteer at three locations each year, including Edgewater Park and Hillcrest Park in Mt. Vernon.
The work varies from year to year, keeping things interesting and impactful. One year, they planted fifteen cherry trees and native rose bushes throughout the park. Another time, they pulled invasive ivy that was threatening native plants. They’ve also worked on erosion prevention projects, planting trees along the river that runs through town to protect the waterway and stabilize the banks.
What might seem like a daunting 4-6 hour commitment often wraps up early, thanks to the impressive turnout from team members and their families.
Growing Together
Bridge-Pope captures the entire experience in one sentence: “It is very rewarding to be able to spend time with my team and give back to the community that we serve at the same time.”
Three years in, those cherry trees are growing strong in Mt. Vernon’s parks. But they’re not the only things that have taken root. RET has cultivated a culture of giving back, created lasting partnerships with community organizations, and strengthened the bonds between team members who share more than just a workplace—they share a commitment to the place they call home.
As Earth Day approaches each year, the team looks forward not just to the work ahead, but to the laughter, the shared accomplishment, and the knowledge that they’re making their corner of Western Washington a little bit better, together.
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