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Youth Behind GreenMyParents Movement Urge America to Vote to Help Them Win a Pepsi Refresh $250,000 Grant
Kids Nationwide Take Action to Save the Planet
Youth Behind GreenMyParents Movement Urge America to Vote to Help Them Win a Pepsi Refresh $250,000 Grant
Kids Nationwide Take Action to Save the Planet
Published 03-15-10
Submitted by GreenMyParents
Young people across America are energizing the green economy by joining GreenMyParents (GMP), a national campaign that fosters peer-to-peer leadership and collaboration to enact environmental change. Set to officially launch on Earth Day 2010, GreenMyParents will equip 100 young environmental champions with the tools and resources to train and educate an additional group of 100 peers each about eco-friendly actions they can take in their own homes with their families. By continuing the cycle of recruiting another 100 kids, GMP aims to bring together one million students in an effort to save the planet.
To continue mobilizing young people and providing adequate tools and resources, GreenMyParents has entered the Pepsi Refresh Project with the goal of receiving enough votes to be awarded a $250,000 grant. From now until March 31, the youth behind GMP are urging their fellow Americans to support and vote for their cause at http://www.refresheverything.com/greenmyparents or via the GreenMyParents Facebook fan page.
"The state of the planet is top of mind for kids nationwide, and GreenMyParents' goal is to support their desire to shape the green future, which is ultimately the world that this next generation will inherit," said Tom Feegel, founder of GreenMyParents. "We are giving kids a platform to engage with peers and parents, bringing their insights and vision for a better world to life and leading their families in making simple and effective sustainable changes at home."
Operating with the family pocketbook in mind, kids will find environmental allies in their parents as they work together to bolster family savings, help the economy, and save the planet by conserving home resources through following and completing "eco assignments." From reducing water and energy usage to cleaning with non-toxic products, families are estimated to save at least $100, which brings the collective savings of American families to an estimated $100 million over the course of a year.
To spread the word about participation and opportunities for youth, GMP is releasing a book titled "GreenMyParents" in April, utilizing social media engines such as Twitter and Facebook, and hosting youth-led public workshops across the country. To bolster funding for the program, GreenMyParents has applied for a $250,000 Pepsi Refresh Project grant during the month of March. The Pepsi Refresh Project awards monthly grants to business or non-profit ideas that are refreshing and positively impact the environment, communities, education, health, food or culture. The ideas with the most votes receive grants ranging from $5,000 to $250,000.
"As one of the champions for GreenMyParents, I feel strongly that we can inspire our families, our communities and our country to successfully face and overcome the most important challenge of our time," said 12-year-old Adora Svitak, published author and youngest speaker at the TED 2010 Conference. "By shining a light on the current state of the environment and teaching people of all ages simple behavioral changes, we can ensure a better and healthier future for the planet and ourselves."
"Youth across the country are yearning for the knowledge and tools to make a positive difference in the world. GreenMyParents is an outstanding program that will empower the next generation of leaders to make that difference," said Philippe Cousteau, co-founder of EarthEcho International and grandson of legendary explorer Jacques Yves Cousteau. "It is imperative that we stand behind these young environmental entrepreneurs and give them every opportunity to create lasting change."
To date, GreenMyParents has established a number of partnerships with top organizations including: National Wildlife Federation, Environmental Protection Agency ENERGY STAR Program, CarbonFund.Org, EarthEcho International, Environmental Media Association, Kids vs. Global Warming, Teens Turning Green, SlowFoodUSA and many more.
About GreenMyParents
GreenMyParents is a revolutionary, nationwide program to help young people teach their peers and parents how to work together to help the economy, earn money at home, and save the planet through simple, everyday actions. Scheduled to launch Earth Day 2010, this movement enables youth to bring their insightful perspective on how to reduce their parents' use of resources and save money at home to make a huge difference in saving the planet and securing their future.
GreenMyParents is working with dozens of top organizations including: National Wildlife Federation (publisher of Ranger Rick magazine), Environmental Protection Agency ENERGY STAR Program, Carbonfund.org, Environmental Media Association, Earth Echo, Alliance for Climate Education (ACE), DonorsChoose.org, Kids vs. Global Warming, Green Youth Movement (GYM), Teens Turning Green, Slow Food USA, Project Sprout, Rise Above Plastics, Plastic Pollution Coalition, Green Charter Schools Network, Environmental Charter High School, Green Ambassadors, The Groop, Diversion Media and many others.
