UNICEF Partnership

Green Schools: Saving Energy. Saving Money. Helping to Save Lives.

 
Pace Academy and the Green Schools Alliance invite ALL SCHOOLS to join together to conserve energy, reduce carbon emissions and help the children of the world.

Tea Leoni, UNICEF Ambassador and GSA Parent, asks students to write letters to their peers in Haiti.

 Monday, February 25th marked the start of the 2010 Green Cup Challenge™ (GCC), the nation's first and only student-driven, interschool energy conservation challenge. Pace Academy, the GCC Georgia Coordinator, and the Green Schools Alliance are asking all energy-smart, sustainable green schools across the country to donate the financial savings from their February power bill to the Haitian relief effort of their choice, and Ripple the challenge out to families as well. By inviting schools to join together in this effort, they can underscore that energy efficiency, not only saves energy, reduces carbon and saves money, but it can also help to save lives.

Last year, 120 schools across 24 states participated in the Green Cup Challenge and reduced their aggregated carbon emissions by 2.5 million pounds, the equivalent of taking 220 cars off the road for one whole year. This year, more than 220 schools are participating, including New York City public schools. Simply establish a baseline power use and cost for February. Then, initiate simple, free energy-saving measures around your home and office. Compare this year with your baseline, and donate the savings. It's that simple!

As 50% of the Haitian population is under 18 years old, "children helping children" is a powerful message coming from the school community. The Green Schools Alliance is also proud to have partnered with UNICEF to support the children of the world. Tea Leoni, actress and Green Schools Alliance Parent, whose grandmother co-founded UNICEF in 1947, supports and applauds the efforts of the Green Schools Alliance and Green Cup Challenge schools and has written the following:

". . . if your kids want to help, one idea that seemed quite beautiful and has been done during other crisis where children were so deeply affected, is to have your child motivate his or her class at school to write a letter to their peers in Haiti. They can send them love and support and maybe a beautiful drawing and, when the time comes, we will get the letters to these children in Haiti, who need everything.Because of the devastation and conditions in Haiti, the temptation to send gifts, such as canned goods, clothing, toys etc. is not recommended right now as the focus must be on getting emergency supplies (medicine, water, vaccines etc.) into the area first.

We would love the support and help of the GSA and Green Cup Challenge schools. Yes, please pass on the information above. I will be personally responsible for getting the letters where they need to go. You can send the letters and drawings directly to the Green Schools Alliance who will give them to me. For donations, easiest is to visit: . Thank you for anything and everything."   –Tea

Regardless of the organization through which schools select to contribute, please coordinate your efforts through the contacts below so that we can aggregate our numbers. Spread The Word!

Green Cup Challenge: Hope for Haiti
Jonathan Day, Dean of Students
Pace Academy Upper School
Green Schools Alliance Charter member
Green Cup Challenge™ Georgia Coordinator

Drawings and Letters for Haiti
Tea Leoni/UNICEF
c/o Green Schools Alliance
900 Park Avenue, Suite 18E
New York, NY 10075