Houston’s Monarch School Receives a Grant from Recyclebank and Coca-Cola for Green Schools Program

(3BL Media) Houston - MAY 16, 2012 -The City of Houston and Recyclebank® announced today that The Monarch School, a program of The Monarch Institute for Neurological Differences, has reached its fundraising goal and received a grant for the Recyclebank Green Schools program, which awards schools for unique student projects that will green their classrooms and communities. The grant will fund the school’s green school project, a micro-cosmos garden, which is next to a sustainable art facility. The ceremony was held at The Monarch School and included remarks by representatives from the school, the City of Houston, Recyclebank and Coca-Cola.

Schools across the country participate in the Green Schools program by submitting green project proposals to Recyclebank.  Recyclebank members donated their points to help fund the schools’ projects, and Recyclebank matched member point donations dollar-for-dollar. A critical program partner is Coca-Cola, which helped schools across the U.S. meet their target grant goal and make their green project ideas a reality by donating funds.

Details of the check ceremony event include:

Who/Speakers:

• Marty Webb, EdD, founder and head of school, Monarch Institute for Neurological Differences
• Gillan Taddune, director of community solutions, Recyclebank
• Laura Spanjian, sustainability director, City of Houston
• Harry Hayes, director, Solid Waste Management, City of Houston
• Hector Amaya, market unit vice president of field operations, Coca-Cola Refreshments of Houston
• Helena Brown, district A council member, City of Houston
• Shelly Pottorf, AIA, LEED AP BD+C, principal architect, Architend

What: 

Check presentation ceremony at the school hosted by the City of Houston, Recyclebank and Coca-Cola. Representatives presented The Monarch School with a $2,500 check for their participation in the Recyclebank Green Schools program.

The school’s Green Plan teaches students how to take ownership of their lives by creating a micro-cosmos that will illuminate the three ‘paths of less resistance’ surrounded by a vegetable garden, a rocky river and a gentle stream. A new sustainable art facility is next to the garden.  The Monarch School serves individuals ranging in age from 3-29 years old diagnosed with neurological differences associated with Autism Spectrum Disorders.

Where:   

The Monarch School Courtyard Garden

Recyclebank’s rewards-for-recycling program rewards Houston residents with points that can be redeemed for discounts and deals from more than 3,000 businesses in categories ranging from food and beverage to health and beauty, restaurants, entertainment, sports and recreation, apparel, automotive, electronics and more.

To learn more about the Recyclebank Green Schools program, visit www.Recyclebank.com/greenschoolsprogram

ABOUT RECYCLEBANK

Recyclebank helps create a more sustainable future by rewarding people for taking everyday green actions with discounts and deals from more than 3,000 local and national businesses. Through its online platform and partnerships with municipalities, haulers, small businesses and corporate brands, Recyclebank is empowering individuals to make a collective impact on the environment by increasing household recycling, reducing household energy usage and taking other environmentally-preferred actions. A Certified B Corporation, Recyclebank has been recognized as a Technology Pioneer by the World Economic Forum, a Champion of the Earth by the United Nations Environment Programme and for Outstanding Excellence in Public/Private Partnerships from the U.S. Conference of Mayors. Recyclebank is headquartered in New York City. For more information, visit www.Recyclebank.com.                                                    

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