No Child Left Inside!

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!

Tags: Cardno JFNew, Chicago Wilderness, Leave No Child Inside
Posted in Non-Profit Recipients

1% Permanently Protecting Land

It’s always nice to hear from a 1% for the Planet approved non-profit that the money donated to them has done some tangible good. That’s why we were very pleased to hear from Christine at Colorado Open Lands. Christine praises both the people she’s been able to work with and help, and the 1% for the Planet businesses that allow Colorado Open Lands to do what they do best: protect land.

Colorado Open Lands helps families achieve their dream of permanently protecting land. Since they were founded 30 years ago they’ve protected over 250,000 acres of ranch and farmlands, wildlife habitat, river corridors, and scenic views in 39 counties around the state of Colorado.

So far Colorado Open Lands has received nearly $15,000 from The Color People, a 1% for the Planet business member. Colorado Open Lands chooses to devote these resources to projects that focus on protecting land with permanent conservation easements.

One such project was the protection of the 3,796-acre Prewitt Ranch in Washington County, Colorado. Located 100 miles east of Denver, the ranch features a combination of sand hill grasslands, irrigated crop land, sub-irrigated meadows, wetlands and ponds, while supporting a thriving cattle operation – Cardinal Charolais – and a wide-array of wildlife.

Pat Gebauer and Luan August, owners of Prewitt Ranch, reflect on their legacy.  “Luan and I are proud of the fact that we operate a profitable cattle operation, while providing and improving habitat for game and non-game wildlife.  Some people believe that these are mutually exclusive management goals, but we, and many other farmers and ranchers, are proof that this just isn’t the case.  Truth is, without farms and ranches, we wouldn’t have a bounty of food or wildlife.  Our conservation easement allows us to preserve both.”

Posted in 1% For The Planet Community, Members, News, Non-Profit Recipients

A Success Story from Across the Pond

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%!

Tags: Cornwall Wildlife Trust, Frugi
Posted in Non-Profit Recipients

Clean Water

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.

Tags: Bridging the Gap by Giving, Chico CA, Klean Kanteen
Posted in Non-Profit Recipients

The Sun Sets on the Sundown Concert Series

The 2011 Ecotrust Sundown Concert Series wrapped up Thursday night with an all-star showing of the 1% network! Throughout the concert series, 1% members and non-profit partners have been coming out every Thursday evening to exhibit their commitment to creating a healthier planet. But last week we got to see the whole 1% model in action with 1% member, Trew Gear and their 1% non-profit partner, Columbia Gorge Ecology Institute exhibited their longstanding partnership protect and promote the Columbia Gorge. This was the first week where it was a full partnership at the booth and it was great to see them laughing together and explaining their work together!

Photo Courtesy of Trew Gear

Trew Gear is a ski and snowboard clothing company based out of Hood River, Oregon.  They sell jackets, hats, t-shirts, hoodies, and pretty much anything else you would need for a great day of riding in the mountains.  Dedicated to sharing the “trewth” Trew gear joined 1% for the Planet in 2009 and has donated to the Columbia Gorge Ecology Institute consistently each year.  They haven’t just handed out money either.  Tripp, John, and Chris are active volunteers with CGEI, showing that their commitment to the environment runs deep throughout their business.

Aaron and John enjoying their evening at the booth! Photo courtesy of Trew Gear

Aaron Morehouse, Executive Director of Columbia Gorge Ecology Institute, came out on Thursday evening to represent the NGO and their partnership.  Aaron works closely with the Trew crew on the projects that they fund and in facilitating their partnership.  CGEI works to promote knowledge and stewardship of the Columbia River Gorge canyon in Washington and Oregon.  They work with schools and other groups of people, taking them to the canyon and helping them find their place in the environment.

1% would like to thank Trew Gear and CGEI for coming out to last Thursday and for work together to create a healthy planet.  It is partnerships like these that speak to the power of the 1% model in action!

Posted in 1% For The Planet Community, Events, Members, News, Non-Profit Recipients

Go Ohio! Grow Ohio!

Over the last year, we have been working with the George Gund Foundation to increase environmental funding for the state through 1% awareness building and new member acquisition.

1% recently traveled to Cleveland, Ohio for the Burning River Festival hosted by Great Lakes Brewing. It was a gathering to celebrate good beer and music while raising awareness of local environmental issues. And also happened to be my first business trip!  Not many people get to have their first “business trip” be to a festival featuring local craft beer, three stages for constant music, local business vendors, and a dozen non-profits representing in the “eco village.”  The weather was HOT, especially coming from Vermont but it was an awesome experience, nonetheless.

In the eco-village, 1% was in familiar company with 1% NGO Recipients: The Sierra Club, The Trust for Public Lands, and Surfrider Foundation while making new connections with new regional NGO leaders.

We’d like to thank Great Lakes Brewing and all of the volunteers involved in organizing the festival.  It was a fantastic opportunity for 1% to explore a part of the country where we see great potential and inspiring to see Cleveland’s commitment to protecting and reinvesting in their local ecosystem.

Posted in 1% For The Planet Community, Events, News, Non-Profit Recipients, Our Team

Post-work Portland Pedal Party !

If you want to really understand something, you should go to the source. And if you are interested in seeing sustainable transportation in action, you have to go to Portland, Oregon; the epicenter of bike culture and sustainable community design.

Last week on a beautiful summer evening, more than 70 people — 1% member companies, 1% NGO partners, along with Patagonia customers and other interested folks dropped into Patagonia Portland for an update on sustainable transportation initiatives.

New Belgium Brewing- Follow your Folly Bicycle

We heard from Dan Powell, co-founder of Portland Design Works, a 1% member company that makes great bike accessories, about why he and his partner decided to locate their company in Portland. While they loved Wisconsin, Portland is “the place” for people who love bikes and biking in the United States. He loves being a part of a community where nearly 6% of the residents make their daily commute to work or school on a bike. This is a much higher percentage than is found in communities around the United States.

Gerik Kransky, Bicycle Transportation Alliance (left) and Dan Powell, Portland Design Works (Right)

Dan and his partner wanted to build investment in environmental NGOs into their business model right from the start, and made the decision to become a 1% member. They support the Bicycle Transportation Alliance and work in partnership to help make Portland and other communities in Oregon more bike friendly.

Gerik Kransky, Advocacy Director for the Bicycle Transportation Alliance, gave an update on biking issues at the local, state and federal levels. BTA is working to get funding for a bike sharing program in Portland, as well as advocating for bike friendly policies at the state and federal level. The BTA is a 1% NGO Recipient supported by six 1% member companies, five of whom are based in Oregon.

After the presentation, we got a chance to eat some great local, organic food and look at a display showing products from many Portland area companies involved in biking including Sweet Pea Bicycles, Truce and Patagonia.

1% Member Products on Display

Looking forward to seeing you all again on July 28th, at the final Eco-Trust Sunset Concert. Bring your friends and co-workers!

Posted in 1% For The Planet Community, Events, Members, News, Non-Profit Recipients

An Energized Crowd at Ecotrust Last Night

Photo Courtesy of Focus the Nation

Last night was the third week of the Ecotrust Sundown Concert Series and the theme was energy, particularly alternative energy.  1% for the Planet had its usual tent and table, which was hosted by the fantastic Focus the Nation and sweet new member Skate Lift.  The NGO and business handed out t-shirts and stickers to the crowds of people who attended while sharing their 1% stories and getting to meet each other and discuss the 1% network.  They also got the chance to meet 1%’s VP of Organizational Development, Rebecca Calahan Klein who was in town for the day and made it to the show.

Photo Courtesy of Focus the Nation

We’d like to extend a big thank you to Anne and Sasha from Focus the Nation and Bobby and Anthony from Skate Lift for holding down the fort last night! If you’ll be in Portland make sure to stop by next Thursday at 5:30 for a great concert and exhibits with the theme of forests.

Posted in 1% For The Planet Community, Events, Members, News, Non-Profit Recipients, Our Team

Get Down at Sundown

Last night kicked off the first week of Ecotrust’s Sundown Concert Series in downtown Portland.  Every Thursday, from 5:30 to 8:30 a local band plays while various businesses and non-profits exhibit work that is related to the theme of the week.  Last night’s theme was water and 1% NGO Western Rivers Conservancy was there to show and tell people what they do to make Oregon’s water purer and safer for ecosystems.  The crowd of about 600 people was able to wander through all of the tents and tables while listening to the awesome sounds of the Everyday Prophets.

Western Rivers Conservancy tabling (Photo Credit: Eric Brody)

The themes for the following weeks include:

July 7 — Food

July 14— Energy

July 21— Forests

July 28 — Reliable Prosperity

We’d like to thank Western Rivers Conservancy for exhibiting and a BIG thanks to Eric Brody from Shift Advantage for helping us coordinate the events.

Eric Brody of Shift Advantage working at the 1% table (Photo Credit: Eric Brody)

Come down to the Ecotrust parking lot on a Thursday night to meet some other 1% members and NGO’s exhibiting and listen to great music!

Posted in 1% For The Planet Community, Events, Members, News, Non-Profit Recipients

Thank You, Portland!

Last Wednesday, kicked off 1%’s summer in Portland, OR with an event for members, non-profits and local sustainability leaders at Ecotrust’s Natural Capital Building.

Photo Courtesy of Klean Kanteen

The event topped the charts as the second largest gathering in 1% history with more than 70 people in attendance. As the rain held off, people mingled and listened to wonderful music performed by 1% member Garett Brennan and the Great Salt Licks. The energy of the crowd was fantastic; business members discussed their 1% commitment along side their non-profit partners and 1%’s very own, Rebecca provided an organizational update.
Thank you to Susan from Portland’s female athletic clothing company, Team Estrogen and Jeannie from Portland’s custom, artesian label-making company MyOwnLabels.com for speaking so passionately about their companies decision to join 1% for the Planet and the environmental organizations they support.

1% would like to thank everyone involved with the event and everyone who attended! You all made it a great night of networking and celebrating the 1% partnerships!

Photo Courtesy of Klean Kanteen

PS: See you soon! Come out to the Ecotrust’s Sundown Concert series every Thursday in July to continue to meet and build relationships within the 1% network.

Posted in 1% For The Planet Community, Events, Members, News, Non-Profit Recipients