With tighter budgets in schools, fundraising is the best way to keep popular programs. Schools around the United States are suffering from severe budget cuts, now is the time to think about where money is going to come from this fall. The best solution? Eco-friendly fundraising. Not only are green fundraising programs a good solution for needed funds, but they are a chance to promote sustainability in communities and educate children on the importance of taking care of the planet.

School budgets, which typically grow at a slightly higher rate than inflation are currently either growing much slower or staying level. In addition, the drop in states’ revenue from sales tax and recent job losses will affect next year’s budgets. In this economy, there are fewer and fewer options for school activities and programs that cost extra money.

With eco-friendly fundraising programs from Green Benefits, schools and organizations can raise the money they need to give students the same opportunities and privileges as before. Green Benefits offers many programs that will give the opportunity for community education and growth in a sustainable way.

Green fundraisers are a perfect way to start off the new school year, and there are several programs available that can fit any need. Teaching children how to increase sustainability in their community and the importance of the local environment will help them live a greener lifestyle in the future. Some options for green fundraising are selling reusable bags, water bottles, and organic chocolate.

Heading to the 2010 BC Summer Games? Make sure to bring your reusable water bottles because you will be able to refill it anytime for free from a WaterFillz water purifier kiosk!

WaterFillz will have their event water purifier Kiosks at convenient locations around the BC Summer Games which starts Thursday, July 22. The water purifier kiosks have been outfitted with a new design and will also feature the BC Summer Games logo. With four spouts to fill up your reusable water bottles from, as well as a handicap accessible option on the side, there is no reason to buy plastic water bottles.

The Games will be hosted in Langley this year and they last from July 22^nd through the 25^th.They are a stepping stone to higher level competitions for young athletes who then have the chance to go on and represent their sport at the Western Canada Summer Games, Canada Games and then Olympic and Paralympic Games.

WaterFillz are slowly taking over the northwest with WaterFillz water purifier kiosks in schools, universities and now at sporting events. They believe that anywhere there is a soda machine; there should also be a WaterFillz. It is their goal to eliminate the use of plastic water bottles in their schools and businesses, and encourage the use of reusable water bottles, to help create a sustainable environment.

The amount of disposable plastic bottles that are consumed each year is enormous. In addition to that, it takes1.5 million barrels of oil and the power of 20,000 homes to make one years worth of plastic bottles. In that time one billion pounds of carbon dioxide is released into the atmosphere and then 85% of those bottles will end up in a landfill.

Green Benefits, in an effort to reduce this waste and promote eco-friendly solutions with reusable water bottles, is now the official US distributer of WaterFillz water purifier kiosks. The combination of purified cool water from WaterFillz and Green Benefits’ eco-friendly reusable water bottles, we are on our way to eliminating the need for disposable plastic bottles.

    

                                                                                                 (Photo from Arugam Bay, Sri Lanka)

Convenience in America is our primary goal. How can we make life easier? We want to reduce the time we spend on everyday things like cooking, work, and shopping; but at what expense? Plastic water bottles are made for convenience, and are indeed convenient; they are everywhere you look, at restaurants, stores and schools.

The problem is that it is not convenient for the environment to consume millions of barrels of oil a year to produce plastic water bottles. It is also not convenient for people’s bodies to be exposed to harmful chemicals like BPA that are in disposable plastic. We are the bottle fed generation, we buy disposable plastic like it’s going out of business, because it’s convenient; and the companies that produce disposable plastic don’t seem to be troubled about the detrimental effect that their products have on the environment.

It is for this reason that Green Benefits and WaterFillz are partnering up to educate people about the negative effects of disposable bottles and promote sustainability. It is their hope to wean the bottle fed generation with eco-friendly, safe reusable water bottles, and by providing convenient, easily reached clean water.

WaterFillz is based in Vancouver Canada, and it is their primary goal to provide clean water through their WaterFillz kiosks. They feature a state-of-the-art four step filtration system that completely filters, disinfects and cools regular tap water with less energy than an average household light bulb. This revolutionary product is already popular on several university campuses in Canada, and with the help of Green Benefits, will soon be available to all schools and businesses in North America.

Green Benefits will become the distributer of WaterFillz in the United States beginning in July, 2010, and will feature this product on their website along with their eco-friendly, customizable water bottles. Green Benefits promotes awareness of sustainability through their eco-friendly products and fundraisers with reusable bags, water bottles and green clothing. They are excited to partner with WaterFillz to educate the public and begin to eliminate the need for disposable water bottles at all organizations throughout North America.

http://ecowaterfillz.com/

From reusable water bottles to Free Trade organic chocolate, Green Benefits is providing schools around the country with green solutions for fundraising so that kids can help out their environment while helping themselves. Green fundraising, in addition to raising money for school programs, can be used as a learning tool for children. As opposed to selling just popcorn and magazines, green fundraising reduces the carbon footprint of the community as well as raising the needed funds for a school. At the same time, it teaches kids how green fundraising impacts their environment encourages them to lead an eco-conscious lifestyle in the future.

Schools like Ames elementary in Riverside Illinois love the Green Benefits programs because of the positive message to the kids. The parents enjoy it because they aren’t just buying junk for the sake of a fundraiser, but actually contributing to the sustainable movement. Other schools that have enjoyed these programs are the CHS cheer team in California, the BMS band in Indiana, the UHS travel club in Massachusetts and Garfield High School Vocal Music Club in Seattle.

Green Benefits is committed to making a positive difference in the community by helping to increase the environmental awareness through green fundraising. They believe the time has come to act in accordance with sustainably-minded goals and values, and contribute to a brighter future. Schools are in the unique position to give the gift of knowledge, and to empower their communities to act as better stewards of the environment. The team at green benefits is dedicated to helping schools use green fundraising for money as well as raising environmental awareness.

According to Derek VanDyke, founder of Green Benefits, “everything we do has the chance to educate. Marketers often forget the impact they can have, instead of just peddling their products.”

Green fundraising programs through Green Benefits include: a direct selling fundraiser, a catalog fundraiser, and online web fundraiser and the opportunity for non-traditional green fundraising. This company is unique to other green fundraising organizations in that they can create customized programs from pre-approved products. The most popular green fundraising products are reusable water bottles and bags, as well as Free Trade organic chocolate and customized eco-friendly T-shirts; there are custom and non-custom options for designs and logos for all green fundraising products.

The Boston Business Journal reported today on a study by McGraw-Hill Construction that found the value of Green Construction starts was up five-fold from 2005 to 2008.  The most positive aspect of the report was the forecast that Green Building practices are expected to triple by 2013.  The full report is available for sale at McGraw Hill Construction web site for sale. 

I have not paid the $150 to purchase the report, however I do find the trends and outlook for conservation and Green Building to be positive.  My bet is that consumers are recognizing the direct savings in building well and in an environmentally friendly fashion.  We at Green Benefits are here to encourage the awareness and growth in all aspects of living in a sustainable manner.  If you know of other reports that we should be referencing, both positive and negative, please post your comment below with a link to the information.

by:  John Hamlin

Your school is invited join. So far over 30 schools have agreed to participate and send a positive message home. Get your school involved quickly as we only have room for 70. The first 30 slots were filled in one week! We are looking forward to working with you go shift the thinking of the value and impact of eco-raising. Join the fight against plastic waste. Send a positive message home all while raising funds for your school projects! A true win . . . win . . . win!

Solid waste is a major issue in our country.  According to the EPA, Americans generated 251 million pounds of solid waste in 2006.  It has been estimated that disposable lunches generate as much as 67 pounds of waste per child per school year – that is 18,760 pounds of waste for one average size elementary school.

What can we do in our school’s to reduce the amount of solid waste generated?  Let’s introduce the “No Waste Lunch Day.”  There are many versions of this program, but they all share a common goal – teach our children and families how to Reduce, Reuse, Recycle and Compost. 

Make this a school wide program.  It could be a one day event or better yet make it a monthly or even weekly occurrence.  Over time, you will begin to change the patterns and habits of families.  Another great resource!

A typical No Waste Lunch contains no throwaway packaging and produces no food waste. 

• The lunch is packed in a reusable lunch box. 

• Pack a cloth napkin instead of disposable napkin and wash at home.

• The food is put in reusable containers rather than wrapping in disposable packaging. 

• Use an icepack in your lunch so that food stays fresh until it is eaten.

• A drink is in a refillable bottle. 

• Compost partially eaten foods that will not be eaten later in your compost bin at home.

The “No Waste Lunch” is an example of going green being cheaper than the alternative.  You will not need to buy napkins, baggies, and juice boxes.  Multiply that by the number of kids you send to school and the number of days they attend.  Now you can save money, teach our children a valuable lesson and reduce the impact on the environment.

On a personal note, my daughter loves her “No Waste Lunch.”  She uses her Wrap-N-Matt reusable sandwich bag as a cool sandwich wrap system and placemat.  Her Klean Kanteen water bottle keeps her water cool without a bad after taste and the reusable icepack keeps her lunch fresher..which means less waste at home to compost.  (Vermiculture or worm composting will be a future blog topic....kids love it.)

Written by Derek VanDyke – Green Benefits