Private Program to Offer Grants to Young Green Heroes
To find America's next Green Heroes, the makers of Green Works natural cleaners, with help from Jane Goodall’s Roots & Shoots, the Jane Goodall Institute’s global environmental and humanitarian youth program, is launching the 2010 Green Heroes Grant Program.
Through the program, the makers of Green Works natural cleaners will award six grants, totaling $60,000, to individuals, organizations and schools across the country that, through great ideas and old-fashioned hard work, are making their communities a greener place to live.
“Green Heroes is about recognizing and supporting those individuals and organizations that maybe aren’t getting headlines, but are making a big difference in their communities,” said David Kargas, senior group manager of public relations for The Clorox Company, the manufacturer of Green Works. “With the help of Jane Goodall’s Roots & Shoots, we hope to provide a little seed money to a handful of inspiring organizations and individuals that are making their communities greener places to live.”
People can nominate green community projects and their leaders for a Green Heroes grant by submitting a photo and short essay about the project or person at www.facebook.com/greenworks. Nominations will be accepted through Feb. 18. A $15,000 first prize and a $5,000 runner-up grant will be awarded in each of the following three categories:
- Youth Leader/Organization: Individual youth leaders – aged 13 to 17– and youth-led non-profit organizations.
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Adult Leader/Organization: Individual leaders – aged 18 and over – and non-profit organizations.
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School Organization: This category will recognize innovative environmental programs that are coordinated by a school or a teacher. These programs can receive grants to help further develop their projects along with a special educational experience from Roots & Shoots for their school.
Nominations in each category should focus on showing how the group’s or individual’s efforts are new or unique and are making a difference in their respective communities. Judges will evaluate entries for their innovation, impact, and growth opportunities.
“We are excited to be working with the Green Works team on the Green Heroes Grant Program,” said Allison Deines, program manager, Jane Goodall’s Roots & Shoots. “We are particularly pleased that the program will recognize young people, as Roots & Shoots is all about empowering youth to make a difference, every day, for people, animals and the environment.”
Following the online nomination period, a panel of judges from the Green Works team and Jane Goodall’s Roots & Shoots will review all submissions to determine five finalists in each of the three categories. From March 18 through April 18, 2010, the public will have the opportunity to vote online for their favorite individual, organization or school. The top two vote recipients in each category will receive a Green Heroes grant.
The final six Green Heroes will be announced on April 22 – just in time for Earth Day. Additionally, the first-place winner in the school category will also receive a special educational experience developed by Jane Goodall’s Roots & Shoots.