FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Oct. 15, 2008
Rock Hill's Freedom Montessori school named Champion of the Environment
COLUMBIA - Freedom Montessori has earned recognition and a $500 grant from Champions of the Environment, the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control announced today.
"Freedom students and staff have a detailed plan of action for their 'Project Go Green,' which is designed to reduce the environmental footprint of their school," said Lynne LaSalle, coordinator for Champions of the Environment. "Educating parents and the community about waste reduction and environmentally friendly behaviors plays a large part in the project."
According to LaSalle, "Project Go Green" focuses on the four R’s - reduce, reuse, recycle and rethink.
"Students recycle a variety of resources at school and offer to pick-up selected recyclables from nearby businesses on a weekly basis," she said. "The school also takes its message on-the-road to some York County festivals. This ambitious project has a positive impact on the environment through reduced resource and energy use, and has a positive effect on the students through raising awareness of their effect on South Carolina’s environment."
As a Champion of the Environment, Freedom Montessori will receive a $500 cash award to support their waste reduction activities. A commercial about the project will be aired on WIS-TV in Columbia and WCSC-TV in Charleston and the school also will receive Champions' giveaway items.
For over fifteen years, Champions of the Environment has rewarded environmental action and awareness in South Carolina's students in kindergarten through 12th grade. Champions is sponsored by DHEC, International Paper, Eastman Chemical Company, WCSC-TV and WIS-TV. Ten grants are awarded during the school year in two grant cycles. Applications for Champions' next round of grants are due Jan. 15, 2009.
For more information, visit the Champions' Web site at: http://www.scdhec.gov/champions, or call LaSalle at (803) 898-4394.
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For more information:
Clair Boatwright - (803) 898-4461
E-mail - boatwrc@dhec.sc.gov
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