Environmental News

Denise Morrison
(913) 551-7003
morrison.denise@epa.gov

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

March 11, 2004

EPA AWARDS FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE TO SEVEN ORGANIZATIONS IN CELEBRATION OF EARTH DAY

EPA Region 7 has awarded financial assistance to seven organizations in celebration of Earth Day 2004 in Iowa, Kansas, Missouri and Nebraska. Through these funded projects, Earth Day will be celebrated April 22 and throughout the year.

EPA received and reviewed 116 proposals from environmental groups, non-profit organizations, schools, and state agencies. The Earth Day awards ranged from $1,000 to $5,000.

The selected projects will focus on long-term education and will engage children, parents, and the public to better understand positive environmental behavior. (See details below.)

If you need additional information about EPA’s Earth Day activities, please contact Denise Morrison, EPA Region 7, at morrison.denise@epa.gov. Mrs. Morrison can also be contacted toll-free at 1-800-223-0425.

IOWA

Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation, Des Moines - $5,000: This project will be celebrated throughout 2004 and 2005. The project will celebrate 25 years of bringing the public back to the land to enjoy it, learn about it, and better understand our responsibility toward it. This project will feature 25 local places showcasing ecosystems, wetlands, woodlands, and prairies through different events in Iowa.

Boone A&M FFA Chapter, Boone - $5,000: This project will engage over 850 K-12 Future Farmers of America (FFA) students in learning about recycling and the use of recycled materials in a 200-head deep-bed swine hoop house. The FFA classes will be held throughout the year.

KANSAS

Associated Youth Services, Kansas City - $2,665: An organic vegetable garden will be created on the school premises and will engage at-risk students in the holistic (social, economic, environmental) growing season. Classes will be held throughout the year. Approximately 100 students per year will be served by this project.

M.E. Pearson Elementary School, Kansas City - $1,275: This project will engage five classes of 4th graders and their parents to prepare to plant, maintain, and harvest their garden bounty. This experience will be incorporated into the 4th grade classes’ curriculum. Approximately 125 children and 300 middle/high school volunteers, family members, and community partners will be involved in this project.

MISSOURI

Heartland Species, Kansas City - $4,000: An Earth Day festival will feature the opening of an educational garden and market. This garden and market will be open to the public during the spring, summer and fall. Approximately 4,000 members of the community will be served.

Missouri Department of Agriculture, Jefferson City - $2,850: This project will help create a Sustainable Agricultural model to be used for outreach to the Missouri public. The farm model will be used to help students explore sustainable farming practices that improve the health of the environment and their food system. Local farmers will help teach the curriculum. Students will use the farm model which will help them understand the relationship between farming and protecting the soil, water, rural land, and communities. Approximately 1,000 students at the Jefferson City Earth Day celebration will be reached. This model will be used at various educational opportunities for years to come.

NEBRASKA

Chicano Awareness Center, Omaha - $5,000: This project will build environmental stewardship among young Latina girls through a weeklong college experience focusing on lead poisoning in their communities. Ten to 15 young women will participate in the hands-on curriculum to learn about the linkages between lead, science education, and environmental justice. These students will learn prevention strategies relevant to lead in their local community.

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