Del Toro served as part of a joint terminal attack controller, or JTAC. These Air Force personnel hold the most dangerous and exposed jobs within the war zone- utilized by the most forward Army units on patrol or on the attack.
On December 4, 2005, Israel Del Toro’s life as a member of the US military was changed when his unit’s Humvee ran over a roadside bomb in remote Afghanistan. The IED explosion left him with severe burns covering 80% of his body and just a 15% chance to live. Despite the odds, Del Toro broke out of his coma three months later to more devastating news: he would probably never walk again or breathe without the assistance of a respirator.
Rather than being defeated, Israel Del Toro fought to recover the life he once had and the opportunity to continue serving his country.
In 2008, after a four year journey of rehabilitation, Del Toro re-enlisted. Serving under the Air Force’s limited assignment status provision, he began to train incoming recruits to do the very job he once held.
“I think DT is kind of blazing new ground in how the Air Force deals with their wounded warriors. Guys like DT that can still contribute in training, training men to do the job he was doing, releases other men that are healthy and otherwise able to deploy” -Barnett, Del Toro’s squadron commander.
This past February, Israel Del Toro reached one final and incredible goal in his recovery. Twelve years after his last jump, Del Toro completed his 131st jump for the US Air Force.
Israel Del Toro’s story is remarkable, and we couldn’t think of a more deserving candidate for this award. While watching the ESPYS this past weekend, we caught sight of some bright green surrounding the Air Force Academy’s Airstrip. Although our AvTurf was a small part of this awesome event, we were honored to be a part of his 131st jump. Israel Del Toro’s perseverance through all obstacles is incredible, and we at Act Global congratulate him on his inspiring determination.
Shelby Becker is a creative content creator and marketing specialist at Act Global. She’s an animal rights activist, avid concert-goer, and scary movie enthusiast. Follow her on LinkedIn .
For more information, contact marketing at sbecker@actglobal.com
The synthetic turf producer has renewed its participation with United Nations Global Compact and the World Federation of the Sporting Goods Industry.
Act Global strives to be a company of positive impact. Through a dedication of innovating sustainable turf products, paired with a promise to support charitable organizations worldwide, we are a company committed to “Be More”.
Last year we made a promise through our Communication on Progress; this year we renewed it. UN’s Global Compact is a worldwide initiative that calls upon companies to be a force of good. The movement asks companies to align their strategies and operations with principles of human rights, labor reform, environment sustainability, and anti-corruption. Since its founding in 2000, the Compact has grown to encompass 9,454 companies in 162 counties, with 46,355 individual reports. We’re proud to be in this community of worldwide businesses that believe in corporate responsibility to take action and advance societal goals.
Going into 2017 we found another community of accountability that recognizes the important role businesses play in the global economy. The World Federation of the Sporting Goods Industry (WFSGI) is the world authoritative body for the sports industry that was founded with the mission to “use the power of sport to change the world”. The WFSGI encompasses over 5,000 members that have pledged to be global leaders in improving working conditions, protecting the environment, and having a positive economic and social impact on communities. Since becoming a member, we have engaged in and passed an independent audit in compliance with WFSGI, strengthening our promise to the UN Global Compact. Both of these organizations seamlessly align with our mission to be more than a synthetic turf company, and to use our platform to serve others.
“We have a lot of certifications and credentials to test and validate what we do as an artificial turf manufacturer. This is a statement of who we are” -John Baize, Act Global.
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About Act Global
Act Global is a world leader in synthetic turf technology, with manufacturing facilities on three continents and sales in more than 70 countries. The company carries a full range of products for sports (Xtreme Turf and Xtreme Grass), landscaping (Xtreme Lawn), aviation (AvTurf) and land reclamation (LiteEarth). Act Global is a FIFA Preferred Producer for Football Turf, Synthetic Turf Council Certified Manufacturer, World Rugby Preferred Turf Producer, FIH Preferred Supplier, and holds ISO 9001 Certification. Its products have undergone hundreds of independent laboratory tests for quality, durability, safety, environmental soundness and performance. For more information, visit http://www.actglobal.com
Shelby Becker is a creative content creator and marketing specialist at Act Global. She’s an animal rights activist, avid concert-goer, and scary movie enthusiast. Follow her on LinkedIn .
For more information, contact marketing at sbecker@actglobal.com
The multi-court facility in Panama is giving local residents the opportunity to play sports recreationally and improve their health. The space is available to over 50,000 kids, youth, and adults to encourage physical and mental health.
“This investment is one of the first benefits of the decentralization funds in the Municipality of Panama. The works are part of the project that the Alcaldía of Panamá has to improve public spaces in the 23 corregimientos of our district, and I congratulate the vision and the effort”, said President Varela.
The complex acts as an asset to promote health and wellness within the corregimiento, as well as an asset to the public schools. With the Extended Day being implemented within schools, Belisario Porras gives children productive ways to spend these additional hours. Additionally, the facility aids in building links between their education, their community, and their health while keeping away from the dangers and criminal world of the streets.
The Belisario Porras complex includes a baseball field, a full sized soccer pitch for competitive play, and a mini soccer square for children. Completed with amenities such as bathrooms, changing rooms, and a communal house, Belisario Porras is a full service community resource for the corregimiento. The facility features Act Global’s Xtreme Turf F50, a durable synthetic grass that is engineered for safety and performance. This means that the people of Panama will have a reliable and safe sports complex for years to come.
We applaud the Panama community on their efforts to inspire health and happiness within their neighborhoods.
Shelby Becker is a creative content creator and marketing specialist at Act Global. She’s an animal rights activist, avid concert-goer, and scary movie enthusiast. Follow her on LinkedIn .
For more information, contact marketing at sbecker@actglobal.com
This month’s issue of SportsField Management, named The Water Issue, looked at the comprehensive management approach to water conservation. We were inspired by the excellent content covered in the issue and support with the notion that we must all take part in the effort to preserve water resources.
Water is the single most fundamental, necessary, and precious natural resource we have available. It spans 71% of the Earth and makes up about 60% of the human body; however, just 1% of water is the usable, freshwater we require. This already limited resource is becoming more and more threatened in the 21st century. As the worldwide population increases exponentially and urbanization grows to match, water is becoming a scarcer and more expensive commodity. With this in mind, it is important for sports turf managers to be stewards of the environment and do all that is possible to prioritize water conservation.
But how exactly do water conservation and sports turf management relate to each other? SFM states, “620 gallons are required to apply 1 inch of water to 1,000 square feet”. This would mean 52,700 gallons are required for an average 85,000 square foot football field, or the equivalent of leaving your shower running for 17.4 days straight. Not only is this an excessive use of water, but according to a survey conducted by SFM, less than half of the operations/facilities who participated are trying to save as much water as possible.
Dr. Jim Baird, an extension specialist in turfgrass management at the University of California- Riverside, states, “As an industry, it’s best to take a proactive approach, to show that sports turf management and water conservation can go hand in hand”. It is important to save water now, before supplies get down to critical levels.
At Act Global, we have created several lines of synthetic turf that both reduce and eliminate the need for watering sports fields. Each of our Xtreme Grass, Xtreme Turf, and UBU products provide a solution to the water issue, while offering a safe surface for the players on the pitch. Xtreme Grass, a hybrid and multipurpose product, reinforces the playability of natural grass while adding in the durability of synthetic turf. By reducing the amount of grass needed to fill a field, Xtreme Grass reduces the overall amount of water used to maintain a field. Both our Xtreme Turf and UBU products are full artificial grass options that do not require watering.
Water conservation is an increasingly pressing issue facing the sports field management sector. It’s an issue that requires facilities to take responsibility and put in the necessary effort for execution. It is our job now to prioritize sustainable turf products and habits to ensure future generations enjoy the same environmental quality as current and past generations.
Check out more on this topic at:
http://www.sportsfield-digital.com/
All photo credit goes to SportsField Management magazine.
Shelby Becker is a creative content creator and marketing specialist at Act Global. She’s an animal rights activist, avid concert-goer, and scary movie enthusiast. Follow her on LinkedIn .
For more information, contact marketing at sbecker@actglobal.com
Summer 2017 has been the start of several exciting moments for us here at Act Global, one of which is the formation of our own installation team. As the crew headed to Odessa, MO this week for our next field install, we had a gift waiting for them to help them battle the heat and sun.
Odessa is a town in western Missouri, outside of Kansas City. Situated in the middle of the US with no large bodies of water near it, Odessa can get extremely hot and sunny. This week, the highs are reaching the 90s with only some cloud coverage. With this in mind, we wanted to provide the team with clothing that would help them be as comfortable as possible while working outdoors. The resulting safety-colored yellow shirts feature a moisture wicking fabric that has the bonus benefit of being odor resistant.
Our sales rep with the guys, Mark West, let us know that the team was thrilled to have the new gear. The boys are already sporting the shirts and are excited to start their work on the Odessa field.
Thank you to our awesome installation crew for the hard work they are putting in, and keep up the great work!
Shelby Becker is a creative content creator and marketing specialist at Act Global. She’s an animal rights activist, avid concert-goer, and scary movie enthusiast. Follow her on LinkedIn .
For more information, contact marketing at sbecker@actglobal.com
We are a dynamic, global synthetic turf company committed to BE MORE. We have manufacturing facilities on three continents, sales in over 90 countries and a trusted network around the world.
Our mission to “Be More” is ingrained in every facet of our business, every employee and throughout our value chain. With a foundation of innovation, integrity and quality, Act Global strives to positively impact society and maximize land use through the use of synthetic turf.
Corporate Office:
4201 W Parmer Ln Suite B175, Austin, TX 78727.
Phone: (512) 733-5300
Act Global strives to be a company of positive impact. Through a dedication of innovating sustainable turf products, paired with a promise to support charitable organizations worldwide, we are a company committed to “Be More”.
The multi-court facility in Panama is giving local residents the opportunity to play sports recreationally and improve their health. The space is available to over 50,000 kids, youth, and adults to encourage physical and mental health.
Summer 2017 has been the start of several exciting moments for us here at Act Global, one of which is the formation of our own installation team. As the crew headed to Odessa, MO this week for our next field install, we had a gift waiting for them to help them battle the heat and sun.