Earth Day 2015
ATLANTA – April 29, 2015 – EarthShare of Georgia concludes 2015 Earth Day Events held throughout the month of April. The following is a timeline of activities and successes made possible by hundreds of supporters including sponsors, volunteers, partners, donors and staff:
The busy month kicked off on Saturday, April 11 with the annual Corporate Green Day Challenge. This event connects employees of company sponsors with EarthShare of Georgia member groups in area parks to make environmental improvements. More than 400 volunteers from Accenture, Bank of America, Cox Enterprises, Delta Air Lines, Hannah Solar, Interface, Kaiser Permanente, Mohawk Group, NewFields and SCANA Energy participated in projects throughout Georgia. Each team competed for the Corporate Green Day Challenge Award. The award goes to the team with the greatest number of volunteers per capita, team spirit and project accomplishment(s).
The winner of the 2015 Corporate Green Day Challenge Award: Cox Enterprises.
All teams were successful with their projects and collectively produced impressive results:
- 1688 hours worked
- 663 tools used
- 34,500 lbs. of trash collected
- 40.5 lbs. of recycling collected
- 27,508 ft.² of area were mulched
- 13,620 ft.² of area were cleared of brush/invasive species
- 1530 ft.² of garden(s) weeded
- 10,600 ft. of trails built
- 1077 plants/seedlings planted
- $38,942.16 total number of man hours worked
On Friday, April 17, business and nonprofit leaders gathered for the 13th Annual Earth Day Leadership Breakfast. The presentation, held in the elegant Grand Atrium at 200 Peachtree, included environmental updates from our newest member groups: Georgia River Network, Keep Georgia Beautiful Foundation and West Atlanta Watershed Alliance (WAWA) as well as displays from 14 area nonprofit member organizations supported by EarthShare of Georgia. Mikayla Wiseman provided opening remarks about her personal experience on how air pollution has impacted her asthma. Keynote Speaker, Julie Miller-Phipps, the new President of Kaiser Permanente of Georgia, highlighted the importance of clean air. The event concluded with presentation of awards.
2015 Awards were presented to:
- 2015 Outstanding Community Partner: Tomorrow Pictures
- 2015 Outstanding Member Organization: Chattahoochee Nature Center
- 2015 Outstanding Campaign Partner: Interface
- 2015 Corporate Green Day Challenge Award: Cox Enterprises
The month concluded with the 20th Annual Earth Day Party, Georgia’s premier Earth Day event, on Wednesday, April 22, Earth Day. The event brings together a diverse group of environmentalists, devoted philanthropists and business professionals. The Earth Day Party was held at the Garden at Community Smith on the rooftop of the Renaissance Midtown Atlanta Hotel. It was chaired by environmental leaders Sally Bethea and Becky Champion and featured a locally sourced menu by Chef Micah Willix, an eco-silent auction, DJ and live music by saxophonist Reginald “BlacFrost” Walker. Craig Lucie, an anchorman with WSB-TV, served as Emcee.
EarthShare of Georgia connects people with opportunities to contribute and volunteer with leading non-profit organizations dedicated to conserving and protecting our air, land and water through workplace-giving programs and annual Earth Day events.