|
|
Author Archive
Posted on February 17th, 2012 by Pauline
Due to my obsession with Downton Abbey, I was intrigued to write about two of our new members from England. Although the two businesses are extremely different (a graphic design agency vs. an outdoor-inland surf facility), they support similar causes and know the importance of running a sustainable business. We are excited to welcome both of these companies to the 1% team!
United by Design is a graphic design agency that has always made it a priority to donate a portion of their sales to local and national environmental non-profits, so they are thrilled to be part of the 1% movement! Although it is a small company, they know that by donating to certain land trusts and organizations, they are able to make a positive change in their region. They have embraced the notion that the sustainability of the natural environment is fundamental to the sustainability of business. United by Design plans on actively encouraging their friends, clients and suppliers to join 1% for the Planet so there will be even more resources donated to local environmental non-profits in the York region. Thanks for spreading the word!
Although we have a number of surf-related members, this one is truly unique! Wavegarden UK, is a project that appeals to people of all ages, abilities and backgrounds. They hope people will interact more with both each other and the natural world. It uses cutting edge wave making technology to create a very exciting inland surfing facility, like no other. The facility will include beautiful botanical gardens, which provide a socially inclusive space for fun, reflection and rehabilitation. The project is partly community invested and the core activities are supported by community based projects. The owners, Nick Hounsfield and Tobin Coles hope to finish this facility in 2013 so that the whole community will have a fun place to play and relax!
Posted in News
Posted on February 10th, 2012 by Pauline
Today’s post is dedicated to two of our new-ish members, both of which are located in New England! Whether you want to learn more about planning a t-party, or looking for a week of relaxation I think you’re going to want to read the following!
Squam Art Workshops is a creative center that started on the shores of Squam Lake in New Hampshire. Better known simply as “Squam”, this retreat attracts people who want to take a break from the daily grind and need a chance to catch their breath and enjoy life. During the scheduled retreats, they offer tons of different art, cooking and yoga classes. They are planning a Squam trip to Italy (!!) this fall and are hoping to schedule more of these in years to come! If you’re looking to relax and spend some time reconnecting with your creative side, you should sign up for a Squam retreat. Also, check out their store to see what is for sale this month!
We are also excited to welcome Peace Tree Apparel, based nearby in Massachusetts! Peace Tree Apparel’s mission is to create t-shirts and accessories that inspire everyone to be good to the world we all share. On a personal level, they strive to maintain family practices that are good for the earth and it is also important for them to incorporate these same practices into their business. Check out their online store to buy some comfortable t-shirts and accessories and to learn more about their t-parties!
Posted in Members
Posted on February 3rd, 2012 by Pauline
Meet the Moment is a program started by 1% member Clif Bar in the spring of 2011 to encourage the sharing of inspiring and adventurous moments. Whether you took an awesome trip, skied somewhere new, ran your first marathon, or hiked somewhere with a beautiful view, they want to hear about it! For every Moment that an individual uploads (in the form of a picture or story) to the Meet the Moment webpage, Clif Bar will donate $5 to one of five organizations.
One of these organizations is our non-profit recipient the Winter Wildlands Alliance. The Alliance (along with help from the US Forest Service) played a major role in helping organize volunteers for the National Day of Action which happened last October and was sponsored by Meet the Moment. The nationwide preservation effort brought together more than 1,200 people who contributed more than 4,500 volunteer hours to protect and preserve the land that is important to them.
The Winter Wildness Alliance, based in Idaho, organized three different volunteer events near the Idaho-Wyoming border. They included digging holes to set boundary markers in the Winegar Hole and Jedediah Smith Wildernesses, and placing a winter kiosk sign on Glory Peak, which included a fun 2-3 hour hike. We are proud of all the work that our non-profit recipients have been doing and are thankful for the support that is given by our members! Stay tuned for more information about this year’s National Day of Action, or just get out there on your own to protect the places you play!
Posted in News
Posted on January 27th, 2012 by Pauline
Since it is a dreary day here in Vermont, we thought it would be good to share a cheery and colorful story about one of our non-profit recipients in Chicago. Lucy Hutcherson, the Director of Conservation and Communication Programs at Chicago Wilderness sent us the following story about an event from last summer that got thousands of kids out of the house and into the woods!
Summer break started with a bang in the Chicago region! More than 15,000 children and adults engaged in free, fun outdoor activities, such as following trails, building forts, playing with mud, and roasting marshmallows! Illinois Governor Patrick Quinn declared June as Leave No Child Inside Month, which resulted in more families reconnecting with their natural heritage through nature play and exploration than in any previous year.
1% member company Cardno JFNew, an ecological consulting and restoration firm headquartered in Walkerton, Indiana, was one of the supporters of Chicago Wilderness, which is an alliance of over 250 organizations that work together to restore local nature and improve the quality of life for all who live in the greater Chicago region. This support allowed for the coordination of outreach, publicity, and community partnerships around the Leave No Child Inside Month campaign. Other supporters of this campaign included the Chicago Wilderness Corporate Council, the U.S. Forest Service, and the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service.
More than seventy conservation agencies and organizations, park districts, corporations, faith organizations, health-and-wellness coalitions, schools, Native American groups, and other organizations planned and delivered twenty-two family events that made children and their caregivers more comfortable with outdoor play and discovery activities. The campaign strengthened relationships between new and non-traditional conservation partners, engaged English- and Spanish-speaking families, and enabled a wide diversity of participants to attend the events and engage in follow-up summer experiences in community gardens, at the lakeshore, and at other outdoor locations. Who knew that summer in the city could be so much fun!
Thank you to Lucy for sharing this wonderful story with the whole 1% network! We are glad to see that the partnership between Chicago Wilderness and Cardno JFNew has been able to accomplish so much together and we are proud of the work these groups have done to bring such a wonderful event to the greater Chicago community!
Posted in News
Posted on January 20th, 2012 by Pauline
Although 1% for the Planet is based in a small town in central Vermont, we have made an impact internationally over and over again. We love to hear stories or about specific events that have taken place because of a 1% FTP connection! We recently found out that one of our business members, Frugi, donated £8232 to the Cornwall Wildlife Trust. Over the last few years, they have given over £20,000 to the Trust!
Frugi is an organic baby and children’s clothing company based in Helston, Cornwall, England. They have always wanted to make a positive difference in the community and in their customer’s lives. They make comfortable, high quality clothing that children love to wear, and have always recognized the importance of supporting local environmental causes. This money has allowed for the Trust to continue supporting environmental initiatives in the Cornwall area. Their mission is to maintain biodiversity in nature and to have everyone in the community enjoy and appreciate its beauty. In honor of this large donation, the Cornwall Wildlife Trust hosted an event, at which seventy people showed up to thank Frugi for their generosity!
Photo taken by Sheila McCann-Downes
We are proud and thankful for the work and support that both groups have given since making their commitment to 1%!
Posted in Non-Profit Recipients
Posted on January 18th, 2012 by Pauline
As most of you probably know, Klean Kanteen has created the ideal water bottle for both cold and hot drinks. However, you might not know that since joining 1% for the Planet, they have donated a portion of their sales to Bridging the Gap by Giving, a group based in Chico, CA. Bridging the Gap by Giving has made it a goal of theirs to raise money in support of clean water projects in developing countries. They host an annual event called “Walk4Water”, where people have a chance to make a two or five kilometer trek while carrying a bucket of water, to mimic the work that African women do everyday so their families are able to drink, cook and clean. This past year, in the third year of this event, they raised $19,500, which will allow for 1,114 Africans to have clean water for the rest of their lives. The money raised by donations from groups like Klean Kanteen and events like Walk4Water has been given to groups in Western Africa to fund safe water projects. This video was made after last year’s Walk4Water event. Thank you to both Klean Kanteen and Bridging the Gap by Giving for making it possible for so many people to have access to clean drinking water.
Posted in Non-Profit Recipients
|
|
