Project Highlight: Paint It Forward 2026 – Tree of Life School
October 14, 2026
A fresh coat of paint can make a big difference, especially when the walls belong to a school filled with young learners. This summer, PMV Painting brought its annual Paint It Forward initiative to the Tree of Life School in Kalamazoo, Michigan, giving classrooms and common areas a refresh before students returned.
Located in Kalamazoo’s Edison neighborhood, Tree of Life School is a Christ-centered school dedicated to providing accessible, transformative education to local families. Through Paint It Forward, our Portage-based team donates professional painting services to local families and nonprofit organizations. This year’s project gave us an opportunity to put our skills to work for a school serving our community.
Homeroom: Preparation
Before any real learning happens, getting organized starts the day on a positive note. For the PMV painting crew supporting the project, this meant setting up the Tree of Life campus for a successful transformation. The team swept away debris, laid down drop cloths and painter’s tape, and patched walls. Laying a solid foundation helped the finish look smooth and hold up over time.
First Period: Teamwork
A school operates smoothly when everyone works together, and a major painting project is no different. We divided the campus into work areas, assigning tasks and coordinating activities to keep the project moving. From preparing surfaces to applying fresh coats of paint, everyone had a role to play. Working side by side gave our team an opportunity to contribute individual skills toward a shared goal.
The Big Assignment: Tackling Larger Spaces
Some assignments require a little extra effort. The school’s multipurpose room presented a bigger challenge, with high ceilings, expansive walls, and acoustic panels to work around. We coordinated equipment and painting techniques to give the large space the same attention as the smaller classrooms.
Recess: Having Fun Together
Even a busy workday needs a little recess. Paint It Forward gives our team an opportunity to step away from everyday projects and spend time together in a different setting. Between painting walls, preparing materials, and moving from room to room, there’s room for conversation, laughter, and the satisfaction of working toward something meaningful. Giving back to the community can also strengthen the connections we share as coworkers.
Safety Lesson: Working at New Heights
Some school assignments require reaching new heights. Working on the multipurpose room’s tall walls and ceilings brought additional safety considerations to the project. Our crew relied on appropriate equipment, careful planning, and coordination to complete work in elevated areas. Paying attention to safety is part of every professional painting project, whether we’re volunteering at a local school or working at a customer’s property.
Art Class: The Right Tools and Techniques
A great painting project earns high marks for the details. As professional painters, we took the time to cut clean lines along the trim and verified that every coat went on evenly. This careful focus created surfaces that look sharp up close and from a distance.
School walls have a demanding assignment. Between busy hallways, classroom activities, and everyday bumps and scuffs, painted surfaces need to withstand plenty of wear. We selected Benjamin Moore Scuff-X, a durable coating designed for high-traffic environments. Choosing the right product will help the school’s refreshed walls maintain their appearance long after the crew packs up its brushes.
Final Bell: Giving Back
“Being a part of this project is really important to me. It makes us feel good, it’s good for the community, and it helps us to learn more about the community, too, which I didn’t realize I would appreciate so much.” Cody Heiss, Crew Leader
When the final bell rings, there’s satisfaction in a job well done. For our team, this Paint It Forward project came with something extra: the opportunity to use our professional skills to give back to the Kalamazoo community. The freshly painted classrooms and common areas welcomed students and staff for another school year, while our team carries forward the pride of making a difference together.
