Gentle Giant Moving Company, Inc. is a national moving company which was founded by President Larry O'Toole, originated in Boston, Massachusetts in 1980.[1] It has expanded from a single truck business in Massachusetts to opening offices across the United States. Gentle Giant Moving Company is now located in New Hampshire, Rhode Island, New York, Washington, D.C., North Carolina, Washington state, California, Philadelphia, and its newest office in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.[2]
Award-Winning Moving Company
Gentle Giant has been recognized by many organizations and awards since its inception including:
- Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce 'Small Business of the Year Award' winner 2002.[3]
- Six-time Improper Bostonian 'Boston's Best' award-winner.[4]
- MetroWest Daily News 'Best Moving Company' award-finalist 2020 and 2021.[5]
Gentle Giant has won several workplace awards including:
The Gentle Giant Charitable Foundation was founded in 2005.[10] It focuses on two issues: youth leadership development through athletics and education, and homelessness prevention.[11][12]
Gentle Giant’s partnership with Household Goods provides logistical support to housing assistance programs. As part of the alliance, Giants transport and assemble donated furniture and other household goods to the new homes of those who faced homelessness.[13] Additionally, the company’s work with Move for Hunger has become a core element of its charitable endeavors. In 2021 Gentle Giant was named Move for Hunger’s ‘Mover of the Year’ having transported more than 385,000 pounds of food, the equivalent of 320,000 meals, to the Greater Boston Food Bank.[14]
Connection to rowing
Many of Gentle Giant's employees are athletes, specifically in the sport of rowing. In the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing, China, two former giants, Dan Walsh and Wyatt Allen, competed in the Men's Eight event, earning a bronze medal in the process.[15] Another former giant, Matt Muffelman, earned a seat in the Lightweight Men's Eight event in the 2008 World Rowing Championships, earning a gold medal.[15] Many other former giants have earned spots on various national teams, including 30 US National Team members, 10 foreign National Team members, and 14 Olympians. Amongst the Olympian athletes are Gentle Giant's resident crate builder Tom Kiefer who became an Olympic silver medalist in 1984.[15] In the company's history, it has employed over 400 rowers.[15]
