myGreenSpark blogspot

Green Drinks

2008-01-15T12:48:00.000-08:00

Don and I have been attending Green Drinks meetings since we found out they existed last year. They are a great place to hobnob with other environmentalists, green business owners, non-profit directors and workers, and other like-minded folks. We were driving to the Culver City, Silver Lake, and Orange County venues (in the veggie car, so somewhat green) for almost a year when it occurred to us that Long Beach is deserving of it's own branch.
Our first meeting was in October, and it was relatively successful, thanks in large part to Sarojni Mehta-Lissak. Sarojni has started an online guide to earth-friendly businesses here in the LBC, Long Beach Green Guide, and has become an unintentional green activist here. She has been so supportive of Fundraising Green, and has also helped us let people know about the new Green Drinks meetings. Through her website listing, we even got some press! The next meeting is Thursday January 24 at the Gaslamp Restaurant, on PCH and Loynes, at 7:00 p.m. I think the article and the new Eastside location might make this the biggest meeting yet! Hope we see you there...

We're Going to Sundance!

2008-01-15T12:39:00.000-08:00

Well, technically we're not going, the book is going. The wonderful and talented Rachel Hulan of Path Design won a bid to design the Eco-Pavilion at the Sundance Film Festival this week after she did so well with the Green Room at the Teen Choice Awards. She generously offered to place myGreenSpark books in the celebrity swag bags that will be given out to visitors there, and of course we jumped at the chance. Stay tuned for pix of Leonardo DiCaprio posing with a book (wait, I dreamt that)!

Raising Funds the Green way.

2008-01-09T22:44:00.000-08:00

Our Green fundraiser is currently in high gear as many schools, clubs, churches, temples and non-profits are painlessly raising money by selling the myGreenSpark Redemption Book - the first ever Green Coupon Book for Southern California. If you are aren't doing this fundraiser yet, it's time to offer your supporters an easy way to help in their New Years Resolution to live Greener.

This week Treehugger.com reported that 48% of Americans have this exact resolution. We think this must be closer to 60% or 70% here in Southern California. Our book and our fundraiser helps people Go Green. Why not offer your supporters a service to meet their goals, while raising funds for your school or organization?

Just get in touch with us and we'll come out and meet you, bring you a book to see and get you setup to do the fundraiser in no time at all. See the image below to find out why we think we've developed a great fundraiser.

For National customers outside of SoCal, we will have a Green Coupon Book for you to raise money with by the end of February. It's a coupon book filled with coupons that are redeemable over the Internet, so anyone anywhere can enjoy going green with a discount!

To learn more, visit www.FundraisingGreen.com and www.myGreenSpark.com.

We hope to hear from you soon.

Jennifer Caronna
Co-founder and President
Fundraising Green
877.720.3031
info@FundraisingGreen.com

The myGreenSpark Redemption Book is Here! Let the Eco-Friendly Fundraising Begin

2007-12-18T20:57:00.001-08:00

Dateline Los Angeles, CA
Source: Green Ambassadors

Green Ambassadors and Fundraising Green Team Up to Raise Money for Environmental Youth Programs

Green Ambassadors, a project of Environmental Charter High School, is an environmental education program that empowers youth to become agents of change in their communities and the world. The goals of the program include: Educating and motivating youth, inspiring them to set a "Green" example through open idea exchange and social action; To create a learning environment that will inspire new thought, helping young people to develop confidence in themselves, their fellow students and in their future; To create "Green Ambassadors" for local communities and the world, inspiring hope within us all for a just, sustainable and peaceful planet.

Fundraising Green is the official fundraising partner of Green Ambassadors. Both organizations have teamed together to raise awareness and funds for a Green future. By selling the first ever Green Coupon Book for Southern California, the myGreenSpark Redemption Book, Green Ambassadors is raising money for their programs while raising the awareness of consumers regarding Conscious Consumerism. Both organizations know that until consumers Buy Green, our society won’t Be Green.

The myGreenSpark Redemption Book sells for $30 and is shipped directly to supporters in an eco-friendly envelope. Schools, Clubs, Churches, Temples and Organizations like Green Ambassadors that sell the book for a fundraiser receive $15 per book sold. On top of this, Fundraising Green donates another 10% of their Los Angeles-based revenue to Green Ambassadors to not only help the organization pursue its goals, but to prove to the business community that a for-profit company can run on a sustainable business model that includes donating a significant portion of their revenue to a good cause.

About the book: Printed on recycled paper using soy inks, it contains over 250 Green, Healthy and Ethical coupons from 150 great companies, good for all of 2008. Offers cover local services, shops and restaurants that reside in the Greener parts of LA and OC. Other offers feature 125 Green coupons from 70 online retailers. Use the internet to “Green” your life! From Organic to Fair Trade for people and pets, to Sustainable Design, Outdoor Activities and Eco-Tourism, use the book and become a Green Consumer today! Help in the effort to create Healthy Kids, Healthy Homes and a Healthy Planet.

Learn more: http://www.greenambassadors.org/, http://www.fundraisinggreen.com/, http://www.ecoscholarship.com/.

The ecoScholarship Fund: It's Our First Big Eco-friendly Fundraiser

2007-11-10T20:19:00.000-08:00

Our first big promotion is starting. One of our non-profit partners, Long Beach CA based Environmental Consumer Organization, or ECO for short, funds and administers a brand new scholarship fund - the ecoScholarship Fund. ECO's target of raising $100,000 dollars by June of 2008 will be attained by using our eco-friendly, zero-administration fundriaser - the myGreenspark Redemption Book Fundraiser. You can go to the myGreenSpark.com website right now to purchase the first ever green coupon book for Southern California and you'll be supporting a great cause.

Use this link to support the ecoScholarship Fund and then spread the word about it: http://www.mygreenspark.com/ECO

The ecoScholarship fund will be used to help High School seniors and undergrad College students who aspire to an Environmental career, get off to a good start. The first recipients of the scholarship will be from the Southern California area. Applications will be accepted starting in January until May of 2008. The first ecoScholarships will be given out in June of 2008.

From the ECO website: http://www.ecoscholarship.com/

ECO will be opening its scholarship application process in January, and soon to follow, they will be kicking off their "Green Teens" ecoScholarship contest. Teens and adults can play in an effort to raise the first $100,000 for the ecoScholarship Fund. Participants will promote the myGreenSpark fundraiser to family and friends while taking educational quizzes to earn points while learning about ways they can help the environment through their consumer habits. Participants that sell a lot of books and do good on the quizzes will have more chance to win prizes like an ecoScholarship, a new bike, the iPod Touch(TM) or extreme sports and camping equipment. And if ECO hits its goal of raising $100,000 for the fund by June of 2008, the top participant will win a Grand Prize of $10,000 to use for anything they want - hopefully to Go Green!

The Environmental Consumer Organization dedicated to creating Green Consumers through education and marketing. By providing resources for "Going Green" to consumers through special membership-based product discounts on Green and Healthy products and services that people need to start using to actually go green, ECO will create Green and Ethical Consumers in a fun and interesting way. We know that until a major shift towards "Green" happens at the consumers level, companies will keep doing what they do - market conspicuous consumption to the masses to increase their bottom line.

The ecoScholarship Fund is where most of the money goes that we collect from supporters. Our goal is to provide $100,000 in scholarships in 2008 and $1,000,000 by 2010! Besides creating Green Consumers to help in the fight for environment today, we are also heavily investing in our future by offering students an incentive to get on the path to a "Green" career.

myGreenSpark Redemption Book is almost here!

2007-10-26T23:39:00.000-07:00

You haven't heard from us in a while and that's because we've been hard at work putting the finishing touches on our Green Coupon Book / Practical Guide to Greener Living for Southern California. We invite you to get a glimpse inside the book at www.myGreenSpark.com. Let us know what you think, email: info@myGreenSpark.com.

We are excited that we will be launching the first fundraisers on November 5th and working hard in OC, Long Beach and LA to meet our goal of gather 500 schools to do the myGreenSpark Redemption Book Fundraiser by May of 2008.

Our National Online Store Front Green Coupon Book Fundraiser will be ready in December and available for Schools and Non-profits all around the country to use to raise money for their cause.

We are currently working on local myGreenSpark Redemption Books in San Diego and the San Fernando Valley. They will be available this Spring with coupons good through Spring of '09.

We are very excited about our progress and look forward to serving the community while raising money for schools.

Peace,

The Fundraising Green Team

www.FundraisingGreen.com
www.myGreenSpark.com
www.BeCoolBeGreen.com

Fundraising Green's School Wellness Presentation

2007-10-01T20:03:00.000-07:00

Today was truly amazing at the School Wellness Conference in Anaheim California. We presented to a packed house of people in the same boat as we were: looking for a new and better way to raise money for schools without using food and toys as as products for sale or incentives.

We thought you would enjoy our take on the Fundraising Industry and where we think it needs to change. We were also lucky enough to present our fundraising philosophy and our new product - myGreenSpark Redemption Book - it's an educational guide to Green living with hundreds of coupons to match and do what you are learning. Thanks Naomi!

Fundraising for Schools - A “Stuck” Industry:

· Today’s top fundraising companies are exploiting our children:

By playing on their naiveties, using the promise of candy and prizes to prey on their emotions, while training the kids to be a sales force. Pledges are taken by students in school assemblies that turn into pep rallies for candy and prizes.

· The lowest common denominator:

Connecting candy, toys, emotion. Rewarding children with junk food.

Industry conventions that are problems:
· Selling junk food and products that promote it
· Kids’ products that are heavily branded with corporate logos (free t-shirts with Coke logo)
· Buckets of gummy worms and chocolate
· Tubs of cookie dough
· Make it at home pizza kits
· Discount cards with fast food and ice cream places
· Tie-ins like McDonald’s coupons in soccer picture packages

· The overuse of raw paper products (Including Wrapping Paper)
· Wrapping paper / Gift bags
· Expensive glossy catalogs, order forms, flyers
· Coupon books that are distributed as samples and thrown away by company

· Selling disposable plastics-based products
· Items made in China, bought for pennies, sold at huge markup, lack of safety standards, supporting sweatshops, creates pollution by shipping items so far, poorly made gifts that last 1 year, end up in landfill, aren’t biodegradable
· Six times as much plastic per weight than zooplankton is in any given amount of sea water taken from the middle of the Pacific Ocean
· Plastics don't biodegrade, but in the ocean they do break down from exposure to sunlight and wave action into "micro-plastic debris"--what one scientist describes as "plastic powder
· There is a garbage patch the size of Texas floating in the North Pacific

· Marketing “Conspicuous Consumption” to kids
· A prize that is a Portable stereo with a Hummer grill front
· Using disposable plastics-based prizes (Happy Meal Toys)
· Idea that everyone who participates must get something
· Kids clamor for superballs , key chains, containers of slime, things that will end up in the trash in 2 weeks – the industry feeds off of this
· Junk food based prizes
· Coupons for McDonalds, Ice Cream, candy giveaways
· A Limo to Baskin Robbins? Yes!

Problems that Contribute to or Result In:
· Childhood Obesity and Diabetes
· The Plastics-plague, Deforestation and Toxic Landfill problems
· The wrong message for our children

School Wellness Conference

2007-09-21T13:19:00.000-07:00

I'm excited to report that I've been asked to conduct a fundraising panel at the School Wellness Conference October 1st in Anaheim (see csba.org for details). The description of the workshop is as follow:
Money! Need Some?
Monday, October 1
10:15 - 11:30 a.m.
This workshop will provide innovative, profitable and easy healthy fundraising ideas for schools and afterschool programs. Panelists will describe replicable fundraising activities and takeaway ideas that are also good for the body and the earth.
Valerie Reddemann of GreenFeet.com was kind enough to recommend me, along with co-presenter Andy Keller of ChicoBag.com. The fact that the California School Boards Association saw the need for a panel on green and healthy fundraisers proves that the mainstream has begun to think about this issue. What a great way to send our children a consistent message! I look forward to meeting school administrators and parents who are concerned about reinforcing healthy habits.

See you there,
Jennifer Caronna

Can a Green Coupon Book Fundraiser Create Green Consumers?

2007-09-18T22:18:00.000-07:00

Today, everyone knows it’s cool to be green. It’s in the papers everyday. So why hasn’t the idea of “Green Consumerism” taken hold among middle class Americans?

It’s simple: convenience and price.

An environmentally friendly home improvement store isn’t going to just appear before our eyes. And try finding any selection of “fair trade” clothing or “cruelty free” cosmetics in a department store. Retailers are slow to move towards products that traditionally have lower profit margins.

But someone is out to change all of this. PTA mom, environmental activist and business owner, Jennifer Caronna. She started Fundraising Green with a focus on healthy kids, healthy homes and a healthy planet. Her new fundraising product is a Green Coupon Book. It’s called myGreenSpark Redemption Book and will be available this November. It’s full of coupon offers from Green, Ethical and Healthy businesses that serve Southern California, the U.S. and the world.

When asked to explain, Jennifer had this to say, “Our Green Coupon Book serves many purposes. First, it raises money for our customers in an ethical manner, while promoting Green and Healthy habits. Second, instead of participating in school assemblies that teach them how to shill cookie dough to family and friends, students are exposed to the idea of living green and eating healthy and how both are equally as important in creating healthy communities. Further to this point, our redemption book doubles as an educational tool, with explanations on the stubs of each coupon telling why we as consumers should use this product or service to better our health and the environment. We think that our book will provide the “Green Spark” that families need to see just how easy all of this can be. And finally, when used, the coupons do create “Green Consumers”. The more coupons we redeem, the less impact we have on our environment and the healthier we become. We encourage families to explore the contents of the book together. To find a few new products and services, as a family, that will lead them on the path to a Greener, Healthier, Happier lifestyle.”

Jennifer is also quick to point out that besides a lot of fun and healthy kids activities, the myGreenSpark Redemption Book is loaded with coupons for everything you need to Green your life. Green your home, your clothes, your kids, your pets, your food and even your vacation. And all with exclusive myGreenSpark discounts. “It’s been so rewarding putting this book together. Business Partners like REI, The Aquarium of the Pacific, Flexcar, Bikestation, No Sweat Apparel, 118 Degrees, TheVegetarianSite.com and Organic Bouquet have been very supportive and are excited about our project.”

Jennifer continues, “As the dust settles, we’re seeing that a significant number of our coupon offers are web-based. We’ve come to the conclusion that the Internet offers a very comprehensive and cost effective way to Green the life of most American families. And just think, you never even have to get in your car.”

“This gave us an idea. Reaction from around the country has been great. People keep signing up on our website asking us when we’ll have a Green Coupon Book for their area. We’re working on more cities as we speak, but in the meantime, we’ve decided to produce an “Internet Only” version of the myGreenSpark Redemption Book and offer it as a new nationwide eco-friendly fundraiser. At the very least we’ll educate a ton of people. At best we’ll create Green consumers, influence big business to go Green and help in the fight to create a sustainable economy.”

The myGreenSpark Redemption Book Fundraiser will be available to schools, clubs, non-profits and foundations this November. It’s a zero administration, web-based fundraiser. Customers never collect any funds or distribute any product, but receive 40% - 50% of the proceeds.
To learn more about Fundraising Green visit www.FundraisingGreen.com or email info@FundraisingGreen.com. Green teens and Green mentors please visit www.BeCoolBeGreen.com and learn how you can get involved to make a difference.

Updated List of Who is in our Green Coupon Book

2007-09-09T21:12:00.000-07:00

We are still gathering Los Angeles and Orange County partners for our green and healthy coupon book. It's free to place an offer in the book and we are especially looking for healthy restaurants and Internet based "Healthy Living" offers. We hope to gather enough online offers to make a special "Internet only" Green coupon book as the response to put on this fundraiser has been tremendous from schools, clubs and non-profits from around the country.

These are just some of the Great companies that are offering discounts and specials in the myGreenSpark Redemption Book, the first eco-friendly fundraiser for Southern California:

http://www.fundraisinggreen.com/insidebook.php

• 118 Degrees • Adventure 16 • Adventureplex • Amazon Herbs • Amy's Playground • Aqua Surf School • Aquarium of the Pacific • Arbonne • Avanti Café • Aventouras • Back to Natives Restoration • Bean Products • Beautiful Oceans • Beyond Touring Inc. • Bikerowave • Bikestation Long Beach • Bio Beetles • Blue Penguin • BTC Elements • Captain Dave's Dolphin Safari • Child's Play • Custom Bodies Fitness • Design Forward • Earthmutt • Earthroots Field School • Eat Your Veggies • Ecobags • Ecobutterfly • Eco-Me • Escape Adventures • Fern's Garden • Fleet Feet Sports • Flexcar • Fun and Fit Gymnastics • Furnature • Giggles and Wiggles • Grant Redesign Group • Green Nest • Greencoast Hydroponics • Jones Bicycles • Karuna Yoga • LA Dance Center • Love Delivery • Maggie's Functional Organics • Natural Beginnings • Natural High Lifestyle • Organic and Healthy • Organic Bouquet • Pangaya • Path Design • Pet Haven All Natural Pet Boutique • Pink Cloud Events • Rawvolution • Renew Carpet Cleaning • Rooibos Tea House • Safe Spray Cleaners • Sand Rock Farm • Seasoned to Taste • SHIFT Center for Dynamic Change • Sigg • Sprout Kids Clothing • Stroller Strides • Sunflour Bakery • Tahoe Sands Resort • Team OC Gymnastics • The Children's Nature Institute • The Green Office • The Invisible Gardener • The Little Gym of Huntington Beach • The Real Earth • The Road Less Traveled • Vegin' Out • Viva La Greens • Wagville • Willka T'ika Garden Guesthouse in Peru • Yard Design • Yogaworks • Yogaworld Studio

Fundraising Green's First Press Release!

2007-08-22T21:48:00.000-07:00

Dateline: Long Beach, CA, 8/20/07

Schools Say No to Unhealthy Fundraisers

Fundraising Green: The cure for fundraising fatigue?

In a time when cookie dough and candy sales are some of the most profitable school fundraisers, school districts and lawmakers have taken note of the mixed messages being sent to students. In 2005 the California State Senate passed Senate Bill No. 12 Chapter 235 prohibiting the sale of soda and junk food at all elementary, middle, junior high and high schools, effective July 1, 2007. LAUSD has passed similar resolutions and is discouraging the sale of junk food as a fundraiser.

The search for viable alternatives has left parents and school representatives scratching their heads. Enter Fundraising Green, the first fundraising company focused solely on providing healthy and eco-friendly fundraisers.

This fall in Southern California Fundraising Green will introduce the myGreenSpark Redemption Book as its flagship fundraising product. Simply put, it’s a coupon book with a Green and Healthy twist.

The myGreenSpark Redemption Book will unite consumers with companies and organizations that offer green and healthy products, services and activities, promoting a wholesome and active lifestyle. Each coupon in the book, once redeemed, will provide the user with a “Green Spark” for change. Not only will this Green coupon book educate students and families about how a few small changes in their consumer habits can be a big help to the environment, but it will also lead them to healthy activities and better eating habits.

Fundraising Green was founded in early 2007 by Jennifer Caronna, a business savvy PTA mom from Long Beach, California. Jennifer, the mother of three daughters ages 6, 11 and 13 has spent the last eight years representing her children’s school PTA in such capacities as PTA President and Fundraising Coordinator. When asked why she started the company, Jennifer stated, “It was just something that I felt needed to be done. We were always searching for alternatives to the junk food fundraisers and the typical catalog fundraisers that sell over-priced plastics-based products that are made in China and packaged in Styrofoam. In every case the example we were setting for our children was either unhealthy for them or for the environment.”

Jennifer goes on to explain the logic behind her new fundraising product, the myGreenSpark Redemption Book, “By melding the popular and profitable coupon book fundraiser with a green and healthy philosophy, we distribute a product to thousands of busy families that not only educates them regarding green and healthy alternatives, but with the discount coupon in hand, we lead them to environmentally sound, conscience consumer choices. We know that if the families that purchase the book use it to make just a few simple changes towards a greener and healthier lifestyle, the positive impact on our environment and on our children will be exponential.”

Jennifer is quick to point out that “Green” isn’t just about the environment, but about fair trade and ethical labor practices, not to mention community outreach and volunteerism. She reflects, “Ethical consumers not only care about what the product is, but where it was made, how it was made, who made it and under what conditions. That’s why we’ve partnered with over 150 local businesses that feel the same about how business should be done. We gladly offer them space in the coupon book for free. Our goal is simply to create a great product that will raise money for schools while having a positive impact in our community.”

To learn more about Fundraising Green and their new fundraising philosophy, visit www.FundraisingGreen.com or email info@FundraisingGreen.com.

Who's in the Green Coupon Book

2007-08-08T21:14:00.000-07:00

Well, we know you've been waiting to see some of the companies that will appear in the myGreenSpark Redemption Book. Here is a short list of great Green and Healthy businesses that are excited to participate in our program:

118 Degrees
http://www.shop118degrees.com/
Adventure 16
www.adventure16.com
Amy's Playground
http://www.amysindoorplayground.com/
Aquarium of the Pacific
http://www.aquariumofpacific.org/
Arbor Snowboards
http://www.arborsports.com/
Avanti Café
www.cafeavanti.com
Aventouras
www.aventouras.com
Back to Natives Restoration
www.backtonatives.org
Bean Products
www.beanproducts.com
Beautiful Oceans
www.beautifuloceans.com
Beyond Touring Inc.
http://www.beyondtouring.com/
Bikerowave
www.bikerowave.org
Bikestation Long Beach
http://www.bikestation.com/
Blissful Soul
http://www.blissfulsoul.com/
Blue Velvet Salon
http://www.bluevelvethairsalon.com/
Captain Dave's Dolphin Safari
www.dolphinsafari.com
Child's Play
http://www.childsplayonline.net/
Conservatory for Coffee & Tea
www.conservatorycoffeeandtea.com
Cool Baby
http://www.coolbabyplace.com/
Eat Your Veggies
www.eatyourveggies-la.com
Eco-Me
http://www.eco-me.com/
Environmental Solar Design
http://www.environmentalsolardesign.com/
Fern's Garden
http://www.fernsgarden.com/
Fleet Feet Sports
www.fleetfeetln.com
Furnature
http://www.furnature.com/
Giggles and Wiggles
www.gigglesandwiggleslearningcenter.com
Golden Bridge Yoga
http://www.goldenbridgeyoga.com/
Green Nest
http://www.greennest.com/
Greencoast Hydroponics
www.gchydro.com
Hollywood Trading Company
http://www.htc.com/
Islands Surf Camp
http://www.isurfcamp.com/
Jones Bicycles
http://www.jonesbicycles.com/
Karuna Yoga
http://www.karunayoga.net/
Life Size at Fred Segal
http://www.lifesizekids.com/
Maggie's Functional Organics
http://www.organicclothes.com/
Newport Surf School
http://www.newportsurfschool.com/
Organic and Healthy
http://www.organicandhealthy.com/
Organic Bouquet
http://www.organicbouquet.com/
Path Design
http://www.path-design.net/
Piccolini
www.piccolinionline.com
Play It Again Sports
www.playitagainsports.com
Rawvolution
http://www.rawvolution.com/
REI
http://www.rei.com
Renew Carpet Cleaning
http://www.renewcarpetcleaning.com/
Rooibos Tea House
www.africanredtea.com
Safe Spray Cleaners
http://www.safespray.com/
Seasoned to Taste
http://www.seasonedtotaste.net/
Stroller Strides
www.strollerstrides.com
Tahoe Sands Resort
http://www.tahoesandsresort.com/
Team OC Gymnastics
www.teamocfun.com
The Children's Nature Institute
www.childrensnatureinstitute.org
The Invisible Gardener
http://www.invisiblegardener.com/
The Real Earth
www.therealearth.com
The Road Less Traveled
http://www.roadlesstraveledstore.com/
Sigg USA
http://www.mysigg.com
Tees for Change
http://www.teesforchange.com
Vegin' Out
www.veginout.com
Wagville
www.wagville.com
Willka T'ika Garden Guesthouse in Peru
www.travelperu.com
Yard Design
http://www.yarddesign.net/
Yogaworks
http://www.yogaworks.com/

Youth Environmental Leadership Initiative: “Be Cool Be Green”

2007-08-05T19:05:00.000-07:00

Youth Environmental Leadership Initiative
“Be Cool Be Green”
Metropolitan Water District, Los Angeles, CA
August 7, 2007

Day 1

Registration: 9:30-10:00 (1st floor, Room 101, across from the door to patio)

Opening Plenary Session: 10:00-11:00 (MDW Board Room, 1st floor adjacent to the receptionist)
Our World Today & How We Each Can Make a Difference

10:00-10:10 Welcome: Russ Donelly, Manager of Educations
Programs Unit, Metropolitan Water District of
Southern California
Housekeeping: Benita Lynn Horn, Education Programs

10:10-10:20 Introduction: Sara Laimon, Green Ambassadors
Margaret Moilov, California Conservation Corps

10:20-10:35 Global Warming: Alec Loorz

10:35-11:00 Teen Environmental Advocate: Q’orianka Kilcher – Keynote Speaker

Morning Sessions: 11:10-12:15 (2nd floor, across from receptionist)

Living Green led by Green Ambassadors Sabina Ibarra & Danicka Jenson
Room 2-450 (classroom)
Don Caronna
Summer Loyda

Water Blue led by Green Ambassadors John Vlahos & April Lopez
Room 2-145 (large room)
Jessica Hall
Benita Horn
Miguel Luna & Students

Plastics Are Forever led by Green Ambassadors Amber Bianco & Kevin Somoza
Room 2-414 (classroom)
Anna Cummins
Sara Laimon

Lunch: 12:15-1:00
2nd Floor Gallery- Organic & Vegan Lunch

Afternoon Sessions: 1:10-2:15 (2nd floor, across from receptionist)

Youth Driving Change led by Green Ambassador Alex Pine
Room 2-145 (large room)
Helen Ortiz
Shea Pickelner
Alex Pine

Plan-It-Organic led by Green Ambassadors Daisy Villa & Agustin Franco
Room 2-450 (classroom)
Bridget Bueche
Stephanie Knol
Yvonne Savio

Urban Green led by Green Ambassadors Vinni Mahnke & Richard Irish
Room 2-414 (classroom)
John Hansen
Chris Pine
Joan Stevens

Break: 2.15 – 2:35
2nd Floor Gallery – Fresh Fruit/Snacks

Afternoon Plenary: 2:40- 3:30 Room 101 (1st floor, across from the door to the patio)

2:40-3:10
“Attention Grabbers To Get Your Message In There”
Carolyn Allen
President/Publisher California Green Solutions
Discussion with participants on how to be heard effectively and deciding who to communicate with.
Focus on how to leave a positive impress and be recognized.

3:10-3:30
Field Investigation Discussion & Team Meetings
Green Ambassadors and Mentors

3:30 Dismissal

Day 2
“Be Cool, Be Green”
Metropolitan Water District – Field Investigations- MTA, Community Garden, LA River
August 8, 2007

Registration: 9:00-9:15 (1st floor, Room 101, across from the door to patio)

Opening Plenary Session: 9:15-10:00 (Room 101)

9:15-9:30
“Dream It and Make It Happen”
Joe Herman
Professional photographer using his passion to remind us of the importance of being environmentally
sensitive to the world and its inhabitants.

9:30-9:45
Sara Laiman
Margaret Moilov
Meet with teams and make sack lunches.

Experiential Learning: 10:00-1:00
Field investigations - MTA(Transportation) – Community Garden(Food System) – LA River(Open Space)

Final Plenary Session: 1:00-3:15
Presentation Preparation Gallery (2nd floor) 1:00 – 1:45
Presentations: (1st floor, Room 101, across from the door to patio)

1:45-2:00 Community Garden: Ambassadors- Daisy Villa, Agustin Franco, Syreeta Adams
2:05-2:20 Public Transportation - Ambassadors: Alex Pine & Amber Biano
2:25-2:40 Los Angeles River – Ambassadors: Vinni Mahne, Sabina Ibarra, John Vlahos

2:45-3:15 Reflection- Pledge for Change

Fundraising Green meets New Roads School

2007-06-25T18:54:00.000-07:00

How lucky were we to get a meeting with Paul Cummins? Very lucky! Paul is the Founder and Executive Director of New Visions Foundation. They have helped to start many schools in LA to help underserved students. From Crossroads to New Roads, Paul has left his philanthropic mark on thousands of students.

Paul is a sweet man and is always looking for ways to improve the quality of education for the students at his schools. Paul saw our Green coupon book as a vehicle to motivate students to not only raise money for school programs, but to teach them the consumer habits they will need to live healthy and active lives. Paul was very impressed that our fundraiser also educates. A novel concept that Paul had never seen in a fundraiser before.

We look forward to the opportunity to help schools like New Roads raise money, while raising environmental awareness. We know that students will enjoy promoting a fundraiser that is Green. We know that supporters will feel good about purchasing a product that inspires a Green, Healthy and Active lifestyle.

Thanks Paul!

Check out Paul's book on Amazon: "Two Americas, Two Educations: Funding Quality Schools for All Students" . We love it! This is what Fundraising Green and myGreenSpark Redemption Book is all about.

http://www.amazon.com/Two-Americas-Educations-Funding-Students/dp/1597096881/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1/103-4211976-6531056?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1184439512&sr=1-1

Always Zooming,
Jenny Caronna

Green Ambassadors

2007-06-23T11:35:00.000-07:00

Looking for a way to Green up your school?

Want to start an environmental program at your school, but just don't know where to start?

Well, we've got the answer for you: Green Ambassadors.

Green Ambassadors is an environmental education program that empowers youth to be agents of change in their communities and world. Through service learning, community partnerships, and cross-cultural and global exchange, the program fosters personal growth and leadership skills to help youth tackle the most critical environmental issues facing our planet.

The Programs that make this endeavor so special:

"Green Youth Coalition" connects environmental clubs across Southern California in order to create a green youth movement. The "Green Ambassador Coalition" Delegates will be comprised of two (2) members from each club.

"After School/In-School Program" is a 10-week community based service-learning in-action program, providing solutions to the most critical environmental issues facing our communities.

"Be Cool Be Green" Youth Summits are a collaboration of youth leaders from across the city and nation to inspire, create, and share solutions for a healthy planet.

"Green Solution Tours" travel to cities in the U.S. to create and share how youth are empowering youth to transform their communities. The tour will use our green mobile embassy equipped with sustainable systems, an editing station and multi-media equipment for presenting at school assemblies, community events, and conferences.

"Green Adventures" is a cross culture and global exchange travel program where youth study solutions, create and share ideas, collaborate and exchange culture.

Get going, contact Green Ambassadors to connect your school with this brand new program.

mailto:info@GreenAmbassadors.org

Fundraising Green and myGreenSpark supports Green Ambassadors and will be starting a GA scholarship fund this fall for students who excel in the program.

Thanks,
Donnie C.

myGreenSpark Art Contest

2007-06-19T16:04:00.000-07:00

Fundraising Green is dedicated to creating it's own brand of Recycled Wrapping Paper and Tree-free cards to sell in our fundraisers.

Wrapping paper fundraisers are very popular and kill a lot of trees. Don't you think we need an alternative? We know people aren't going to stop using wrapping paper, so our goal is to give them an eco-friendly choice.

Our market research found very few options for recycled wrapping paper, though it does exist. We could only find a few patterns and they were boring at best. We want to inspire people with our designs. We believe that by offering patterns that lead the user to think about the environment, a dual purpose is served: The gift gets wrapped, but better, anyone that sees the gift may be inspired to become active in helping the environmental cause.

So we thought it would be fun to have a contest to find the best art for eco-inspired paper patterns and cards. Artists will submit their samples and our users will vote on their favorites. In the end, the top 5 designers will be offered a profit sharing contract in exchange for the use of their designs.

So artists and designers, please email us at: ArtContest@myGreenSpark.com to let us know you are interested. Further details will follow...

Thanks,

Jennifer Caronna
President
Fundraising Green
jenny@FundraisingGreen.com
www.FundraisingGreen.com

Green-Consumer-Evolution: The Tipping Point

2007-06-19T12:17:00.000-07:00

Consumers in Southern California are now in what we call The Fragile State of Consumer-Evolution: A point where it is generally understood by the majority of the public that a shift in buying habits must occur to sustain something that is necessary to the survival of our way of life. In this case we’re talking about the longevity of the human race and the life of our planet earth, so it's the perfect time for "Green" ideas to spread.

Our myGreenSpark Redemption Book is the perfect tool to spur this consumer-evolution.

The already converted understand what we're all about, but what about the fence-sitters? Those that know the time is coming where changing towards Green is inevitable. We call these folks: Middle of the Road Greenies. They know they need to change, but just can’t seem to find their Green niche. Oh sure, they’ll “Do the Right Thing” if it happens to be presented to them at the point of purchase, but when and where does that happen?

Enter myGreenSpark Redemption Book - redeem coupons and redeem your impact on the environment. We're putting Green and healthy alternatives into the hands of the average consumer. We're putting a Green Spark into the lives of our users, creating new consumer habits, contributing to the Green-Consumer-Evolution.

Here are a few important things to learn from the research Fundraising Green has done on Green or Ethical Consumerism in America:

1) Urban-America is full of these Middle of Road Greenies. It’s a market waiting to be conquered.

2) But Middle of the Road Greenies are much too busy to seek out on their own Green alternatives.

3) They might go out of their way to purchase a Green product or service if the cost is significantly less than its competitor or if it solves a problem that the competitor cannot.

4) To our advantage: Media coverage on such topics as global warming, energy and fuel costs, toxic oceans and ever increasing landfills get top billing on a daily basis.

5) Middle of the Road Greenies are primed to take the next step towards a Green, Zero-waste lifestyle.

6) Fact: Green companies don’t advertise on television – it’s too expense and interruption marketing is basically target-less.

7) Fact: Green companies can’t afford shelf space at stores like Vons and Ralphs when P&G monopolizes the market.

8) Fact: Green companies need a vehicle that will drive their product and service offerings into the hands of everyday middle class families – the Middle of the Road Greenies.

9) Fact: Fundraising Green and myGreenSpark Redemption Book is that vehicle.

10) Fact: Problems solved! Organizations and schools get a fun, feel-good fundraiser, raise a bunch of money, help the environment and promote Green and Ethical Consumerism.

When the synergy between Green Business and Green Consumers reaches a certain point, the tipping point, consumer-evolution will take place on a large scale and Green Business will profit greatly. We're here to make sure this happens....soon!

Cheers,

Donnie C.
blog@myGreenSpark.com
http://www.FundraisingGreen.com/

The Fundraising Green Mission and How it affects Green Business

2007-06-08T01:27:00.000-07:00

Our Mission is to unite the average consumer with companies that are Environmentally Friendly to the Earth, or Green, and to educate students, members and supporters on readily available eco-friendly, fair-trade and sweat-free products and services that compare in quality and price to similar offerings sold daily by companies that brazenly harm the environment. Educating our youth during the fundraiser is essential. Moms and dads are sometimes too busy and too set in their ways to change. In those cases, maybe a fired up teenager will prod them into trying something new. Who knows.

Kids want to be heard on environmental issues.
They understand that they will be here longer than we will.

We believe that using the myGreenSpark Redemption Book will change the average consumer's buying habits, and really, the psychology involved when they are making daily choices with regards to the stability and longevity of the environment.

Further, Fundraising Green’s core commitment is to raising money for Schools, PTA’s, PTO's, Organizations, Foundations, Non-profits, and Clubs while taking the opportunity to educate all participants on ways they can really make a difference in their community and for the environment in their daily lives.

We help conspicuous consumers become ethical consumers.

See you next time,
Donnie C.