Fallon Community Health Plan And CBS’s EcoMedia Partner With Worcester's Ecotarium On An Energy Efficiency Improvement Project

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(3BL Media) Worcester, MA – October 27, 2011 –  Fallon Community Health Plan and CBS Corporation’s EcoMedia have partnered to fund a complete energy efficiency upgrade of EcoTarium’s lighting systems on the museum’s  Upper Level, including the lobby, entrance, and exhibit area.  The lighting upgrade is slated to be completed by October 27, 2011, as part of EcoTarium’s Upper Level renovations.  To date, the EcoTarium’s transformation efforts have generated over 2,100 hours of labor and have saved 515,765kWh in energy consumption, reduced Co2 emissions by 65,457 metric tons, and saved over $77,000 in energy costs.

To announce and celebrate the efficiency improvements to the Upper Level’s lighting systems as well as the  museum’s new exhibit, “The Arctic Next Door: Mount Washington,” EcoTarium will host an exhibit opening and ribbon cutting ceremony TODAY, Thursday, October 27, 2011 at 11AM at EcoTarium, 222 Harrington Way, Worcester, MA 01604.  For more information, call (508) 929-2700 or visit www.ecotarium.org.  The Honorable Joseph C. O’Brien, Mayor of the city of Worcester; Michael V. O’Brien, City Manager of the city of Worcester; Christine Cassidy, Fallon Community Health Plan Vice President of Communications; and Paul Polizzotto, President & Founder, CBS EcoMedia will also join the celebration at EcoTarium. 

Fallon Community Health Plan and EcoMedia partnered to fund this community outreach project to improve the energy efficiency at the newly renovated EcoTarium and also to contribute to the museum’s energy education initiatives by installing highly energy efficient lighting systems  on the museum’s Upper Level. The energy efficient lighting project was funded through Fallon Community Health Plan’s participation in EcoMedia’s “EcoAd” advertising initiative.  As a partner, Fallon Community Health Plan purchased advertising on local CBS stations featuring the EcoAd leaf, meaning Fallon Community Health Plan would participate in community and environmental improvements funded by EcoAd grants.

EcoAd advertisements provide clients like Fallon Community Health Plan with the option of purchasing advertising that will deliver added value beyond a traditional marketing campaign.  With the purchase of every EcoAd package, a portion of the dollars spent goes directly toward funding environmental and clean energy projects, all of which have been identified by local municipalities and public entities as being critical.  EcoAd advertising packages are available across CBS platforms, including network, local television, radio, outdoor, and online.

This EcoAd grant made possible by Fallon Community Health Plan helped fund the upgrade to the lighting on  the Upper Level of the EcoTarium, where visitors come to learn about science, the natural world, and environmental sustainability.  Additional support from The EcoTarium’s Third Century donors, including The Hanover Insurance Group Foundation, helped to make the  Upper Level renovation and new exhibit installation  possible.

EcoTarium is well rooted in the Worcester community as an organization dedicated to the study of science and nature. The private, non-profit institution was founded in 1825 as the Worcester Lyceum of Natural History and was incorporated in 1884 as the Worcester Natural History Society — EcoTarium's legal identity. The transition from the New England Science Center to the EcoTarium in 1998 refocused the museum on its roots in the natural sciences with a focus on hands-on exploration and discovery. The name change accompanied a major capital development program that has transformed the building and grounds into an accessible learning and discovery center for families.  While the name, facility, exhibits and technology have changed, much of the museum's work today continues to reflect the ideologies and practices adopted more than 100 years ago and stay true to the facility’s mission: To contribute to a better world by inspiring a passion for science and nature through discovery. 

“We at EcoMedia are thrilled to partner with Fallon Community Health Plan on this project that will improve energy efficiency at the EcoTarium as the museum continue its mission of inspiring a passion for science and nature,” Polizzotto said.  “We are grateful to Fallon Community Health Plan, EcoTarium, and the tremendous team of supporters for their commitment to community and investment in quality of life for the next generation.”

About Fallon Community Health Plan

Founded in 1977, Fallon Community Health Plan is a nationally recognized, not-for-profit health care services organization. From traditional health insurance products available throughout Massachusetts for all populations, to innovative health care programs and services for independent seniors, FCHP supports the diverse and changing needs of all those it serves. FCHP has consistently ranked among the nation’s top health plans, and is the only health plan in Massachusetts to have been awarded “Excellent” Accreditation by the National Committee for Quality Assurance for its HMO, Medicare Advantage and Medicaid products. For more information, visit www.fchp.org.  

About CBS EcoMedia Inc.

At EcoMedia we're propelled by the desire to create positive social change; that's been our mission since we founded the company in 2002.  Our premise:  That the billions of dollars spent annually in advertising represent a tremendous reservoir of untapped resources – resources that should be directed toward bricks-and-mortar projects which benefit local communities.  We develop and nurture a wide-ranging network of partnerships with municipal governments and NGOs nationwide, and connect them with corporations eager to improve the quality of life in the communities they serve.

The result is our EcoAd program, a profoundly innovative twist on traditional advertising, which we have protected through a robust patent portfolio development program.  Through our proprietary service we are able to efficiently redirect a portion of every EcoAd-branded media buy to fund much-needed environmental projects in communities all across the country. 

The EcoAd program aims to create jobs, save taxpayer money and improve the environment.  In the process, we're fundamentally altering the advertising landscape, elevating the ordinary commercial – and socially responsible media, in general – into a catalyst for real, quantifiable, and measurable change.    

EcoAd is not a certification program, nor is the EcoAd logo a seal of approval.  EcoMedia does not in any way certify, endorse or make any representations about EcoAd advertisers, their products or services. For more information visit www.ecoad.cbs.com.

Contacts:

Janice Sakamoto                                                                   Ro Dooley Webster

VP Sustainability Partnerships & Business Development                Boston Director of Comm. 
EcoMedia – A CBS Company                                                   CBS Local Media
310-374-8212                                                                      617-787-7083
janice.sakamoto@ecomediacbs.com                                         rcdooley@cbs.com