Three winners were announced today for Green
America’s first quarterly “People & Planet” award, which recognizes
America’s best green, small businesses. Each of three winners will receive
$5,000. The winners are: Sonoma Compost Company, Green Kid Crafts, and Raleigh
City Farm. Winners were selected by the public, who had a month-long open
voting period online at Green America’s website.
Green America’s “People
& Planet Awards” recognize innovative entrepreneurial U.S. businesses
that deeply integrate environmental and social considerations into their
strategies and operations. The first round of the Awards focused on green
businesses that also are active in serving their local communities.
Denise Hamler, director,
Green Business Network, Green America, said: “Green America is proud to present
the inaugural People & Planet Award to these three green businesses that
are making outstanding and creative contributions to their communities. Their
values and business models exemplify the type of business our society and world
need now more than ever.”
The winning companies’
descriptions are below:
* Sonoma Compost Company, Sonoma, CA. http://www.sonomacompost.com/.
Sonoma Compost Company (SCC) partners with local schools, non-profits and local
government to provide education and resources that further the goals of
sustainable agriculture. In 2011, SCC donated over 830 cubic yards of compost
to about 150 school and community gardens. In addition, SCC conducts facility
tours for school and provides on-and off-site public education to over 1500 individuals.
Furthermore, it attends community fairs and festivals promoting sustainable
agriculture and green living. Partnerships with non-profits are another way
that SCC demonstrates its commitment to community action. Understanding the
connection between fresh, organic and locally produced healthy food and the
health of the community, SCC is a supporter/donor to the Ceres Community
Project. Ceres is a network of student and adult volunteer gardeners and chefs
that grow and produce healthy nutrient-rich meals for individuals a nd families dealing with serious illnesses.
* Green Kid Crafts, Anchorage, AK. http://greenkidcrafts.com/. Founded in 2010, Green Kid Crafts is a
mom-owned, green company that offers natural, sustainable, and responsible
choices for craft projects. Its green craft kits are an inexpensive tool for
parents and teachers to use to educate children about recycling, reducing
waste, and protecting the environment. Green Kid Crafts partners with its local
Boys and Girls Club to bring fun activities, art and learning to children in an
impoverished community by hosting free monthly art classes and donating art
materials. It also empowers women through mentorship by working with Hope
Community Resources and participating in the Alaska Women’s Environmental
Network Mentorship Program. As a 1% For The Planet member, Green Kid Crafts has
committed to donate a minimum of one percent of its revenue to environmental
non-profit organizations.
* Raleigh
City Farm, Raleigh, NC. http://www.raleighcityfarm.com. Raleigh City Farm’s goal is to transform
unexpected downtown spaces into beautiful and nourishing farmland. It engages
the local community in the process of growing food and sparking imaginations
about agriculture in the city. These highly-visible spaces are an educational
tool to demonstrate responsible, intensive growing techniques and encourage
movement toward a restorative, community-based food system. Its weekly farm
stand offers fresh and organically grown food for local residents. Raleigh City
Farm serves as a field trip destination for neighboring elementary and middle
schools as well as universities and assisted living centers.
Will Bakx, owner, Sonoma
Compost Co., said: “Sonoma Compost is thrilled to be recognized for our
commitment to recycling organic organics into quality composts and mulches. Our
end products are used to rebuild soils by returning valuable nutrients and
organic matter to local gardens, farms and landscapes. We are honored to be
recognized by Green America and are doubly pleased to donate our $5000
prize to an amazing local nonprofit, Daily Acts (http://www.dailyacts.org). They will
utilize this contribution to continue their good work by educating the public
to make a change in their daily actions to create a greener, self-sustaining
community.”
Penny Bauder, owner, Green
Kid Crafts said: “We are thrilled, and honored, to have won the People &
Planet Award as it fulfills one of the founding goals of Green Kid Crafts — to
be a model for environmental sustainability and corporate citizenship. Our
craft kit subscription service is bringing children closer to their environment
through fun and creative activities and we hope that, as we grow, we will show
people of all ages that taking care of the environment and each other should be
a factor in everything they do.”
Josh Whiton, executive
director, Raleigh City Farm said: “We’re really pleased that so many people
supported us in winning this award. The proceeds will go a long way toward
bolstering our operations as we continue to explore the power of urban farming
for improving city life.
This press release is presented without editing for
your information. GRIT does not recommend, approve or endorse the products
and/or services offered. You should use your own judgment and evaluate products
and services carefully before deciding to purchase.
