GRESHAM'S CLIMATE CHANGE PRIZE GOES TO LOCAL NONPROFIT
News Release from City of Gresham
Posted on FlashAlert: September 30th, 2014 3:18 PM
GRESHAM, Ore. - Tomorrow morning Mayor Shane Bemis will bestow winnings from the 2014 Mayors' Climate Protection Awards - a national environmental innovation award from The U.S. Conference of Mayors (USCM) - to Friends of the Children, the Portland nonprofit opening a Gresham office next year.
Mayor Bemis and the City of Gresham won the Climate Protection Award in June at the USCM annual conference. The awards program recognizes mayors and cities for innovative programs that increase energy efficiency and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Bemis was recognized for Gresham's energy management program, which aims to quickly reduce the energy use of the City's top consumers in order to reach the City Council's ambitious energy reduction goals.
In addition to the distinction of being the 2014 winner, the City has the opportunity to direct a $15,000 gift provided by Walmart to a local nonprofit whose work intersects with sustainability.
Bemis and the City of Gresham selected Friends of the Children to receive the award in recognition of the efforts the nonprofit is making to employ sustainable building practices and energy conserving technology, including solar panels, in their new location in Gresham. Friends' programming incorporates sustainably-focused teaching that includes gardening and cooking with local, healthy foods.
Friends is a Portland-based nonprofit that provides 12.5 years of professional mentoring - from kindergarten entry to high school graduation - to children facing difficult financial, family or personal challenges. Friends of the Children is expanding in East County because need for the program is growing here. Friends' staff and supporters are raising $5 million to fund the renovation project.
"Friends of the Children is making an important investment in Gresham's youth, and we're pleased that we can connect them with this award from Walmart and the U.S. Conference of Mayors," Bemis said. "The City of Gresham believes strongly in supporting children and families, and we welcome Friends of the Children to our community."
Bemis and representatives from Walmart and USCM will present the $15,000 gift to Jonathan Sewell, a Gresham resident and member of the Friends' Ambassador Board, at 11 a.m. at the nonprofit's future East County site, located at 424 N.E. 172nd Ave. in the Rockwood neighborhood of Gresham.
"Friends of the Children is honored to partner with the City of Gresham to better serve the most vulnerable children of East County," Terri Sorensen, president of Friends of the Children, said. "We make a long term investment in our children, and we are thrilled to make a long term investment in Rockwood. We are committed to weaving sustainability into our new building, from green architecture, to gardens, to healthy cooking classes. Every aspect of this project is focused on building a strong future for our kids and our community."
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Mayor Bemis and the City of Gresham won the Climate Protection Award in June at the USCM annual conference. The awards program recognizes mayors and cities for innovative programs that increase energy efficiency and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Bemis was recognized for Gresham's energy management program, which aims to quickly reduce the energy use of the City's top consumers in order to reach the City Council's ambitious energy reduction goals.
In addition to the distinction of being the 2014 winner, the City has the opportunity to direct a $15,000 gift provided by Walmart to a local nonprofit whose work intersects with sustainability.
Bemis and the City of Gresham selected Friends of the Children to receive the award in recognition of the efforts the nonprofit is making to employ sustainable building practices and energy conserving technology, including solar panels, in their new location in Gresham. Friends' programming incorporates sustainably-focused teaching that includes gardening and cooking with local, healthy foods.
Friends is a Portland-based nonprofit that provides 12.5 years of professional mentoring - from kindergarten entry to high school graduation - to children facing difficult financial, family or personal challenges. Friends of the Children is expanding in East County because need for the program is growing here. Friends' staff and supporters are raising $5 million to fund the renovation project.
"Friends of the Children is making an important investment in Gresham's youth, and we're pleased that we can connect them with this award from Walmart and the U.S. Conference of Mayors," Bemis said. "The City of Gresham believes strongly in supporting children and families, and we welcome Friends of the Children to our community."
Bemis and representatives from Walmart and USCM will present the $15,000 gift to Jonathan Sewell, a Gresham resident and member of the Friends' Ambassador Board, at 11 a.m. at the nonprofit's future East County site, located at 424 N.E. 172nd Ave. in the Rockwood neighborhood of Gresham.
"Friends of the Children is honored to partner with the City of Gresham to better serve the most vulnerable children of East County," Terri Sorensen, president of Friends of the Children, said. "We make a long term investment in our children, and we are thrilled to make a long term investment in Rockwood. We are committed to weaving sustainability into our new building, from green architecture, to gardens, to healthy cooking classes. Every aspect of this project is focused on building a strong future for our kids and our community."
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