A Huntsville nonprofit founder’s request to bring children from his community service program to help mow the White House lawn during America’s 250th anniversary celebration is gaining national attention after it was shared by The Five on Fox News Nation on social media.
Rodney Smith Jr., founder of Raising Men & Women Lawn Care Service, recently wrote an open letter on X asking the White House to allow several young participants in the organization’s 50 Yard Challenge to travel to Washington, D.C., and help mow the White House lawn as part of the nation’s semiquincentennial celebration on July 4.
Dear @WhiteHouse, my name is Rodney Smith Jr., founder of Raising Men & Women Lawn Care Service in Huntsville, Alabama. Through our 50 Yard Challenge, over 6,000 kids across the country have signed up to mow free lawns for the elderly, disabled, veterans, active-duty military,… pic.twitter.com/1IxbYwtrSA
— Rodney Smith Jr (@iamrodneysmith) June 4, 2026
The proposal builds on a Huntsville-based program that has grown into a nationwide youth service initiative.
“I wanted to humbly ask if a few kids from our program and I could travel to Washington, D.C., to help mow the White House lawn for this historic celebration,” Smith wrote.
“More than anything, I want these kids to see how a simple act of service — something as ordinary as mowing a lawn for someone in need — can lead to extraordinary places,” he added.
Founded in Huntsville, Raising Men & Women Lawn Care Service is a nonprofit organization that uses community service projects to teach leadership and responsibility to young people. The organization provides free lawn care services for elderly residents, veterans, people with disabilities, and single parents who may not have the resources or ability to maintain their yards.
Smith founded the program in 2015 after stopping to help an elderly man in Huntsville who appeared to be struggling to mow his lawn. That single act of service eventually grew into a nationwide initiative that has inspired thousands of young people to help those in need across communities nationwide.
According to the organization’s website, volunteers have mowed more than 6,100 lawns at no cost, attracted more than 30,000 supporters worldwide, and logged more than 750,000 volunteer service hours.
The group’s signature 50 Yard Challenge asks participants to mow 50 lawns free of charge in their communities. Children who complete milestones during the challenge receive differently colored Raising Men & Women shirts to recognize their service.
Smith recently visited Montgomery to help prepare Alabama’s Capitol lawn for its own 250th celebration. Gov. Kay Ivey thanked Smith for his contribution in a social media post.
View this post on Instagram
If his request is granted, Smith said he hopes to bring an American flag-themed lawn mower to Washington and have it signed by President Donald Trump. He plans to auction the mower and donate the proceeds to a nonprofit that supports veterans.
Sherri Blevins is a reporter for 256 Today.
Got a tip for OTR? Send your tip to [email protected] with related photo/video, your name, phone number, and e-mail address.
