Grades of Green

Congratulations to our 2023-2024 Planet Protector Award Winners, Kishoka Youth Organization 🎉🌎💚 The Kishoka Youth Organization from Mombasa, Kenya had an incredible impact this year by planting mangrove trees and educating students on the impacts of climate change. With a large group of community members and organizations, they planted thousands of trees and organized multiple clean-ups to reduce the harsh impacts of climate change in Mombasa, while giving back to students in their community. To learn more about Kishoka Youth Organization and our other RISE Climate Solution Campaign Winners, visit https://lnkd.in/ge2zNKqn

Congratulations to our 2023-2024 Reduce, Reuse, Recycle Award Winners, HEAR Club 🎉🌎💚 In order to educate students on the impacts of fast fashion, the students at the California Academy of Mathematics and Science conducted a social media campaign in addition to making tote bags from donated clothing. Over the course of many months, the team collected nine 25-gallon trash bags worth of used clothes. The students then took it upon themselves to learn how to sew, in order to create tote bags that could be given to students at their school, while educating them on the impacts of waste. To learn more about HEAR Club and our other RISE Climate Solution Campaign Winners, visit https://lnkd.in/ge2zNKqn

Congratulations to our 2023-2024 Intersectional Impact Award Winners, Human is Kind Organization 🎉🌎💚 The Human is Kind Organization from Nyanza, Kenya had a unique idea to manage waste in their community by creating reusable alternatives to plastic and disposal sanitary pads. In order to spread their message, they also partnered with multiple health clinics to communicate the harmful impact that waste has on the environment. Through their innovative efforts, the team was able to divert over 590 pounds of waste from entering the environment. To learn more about Human is Kind Organization and our other RISE Climate Solution Campaign Winners, visit https://lnkd.in/gQDMKw9R

Our Bennett-Kew Green Team is doing an amazing job this summer of maintaining their edible garden! Just check out how much these plants have grown since May 🌱 These students are showing their responsibility by giving their garden TLC and we can’t wait to see what they harvest!

Congratulations to our 2023-2024 Community Champions Award Winners, The Pear Tree Foundation 🎉🌎💚 Returning for their second year, the Pear Tree Foundation from Crescenta Valley High School continued their efforts of offering composting programs to local elementary schools. With their 2022-2023 Eco-Grant, the student-led group purchased compost bins and provided in-person support to four elementary schools in the community. Through their efforts, the team was able to divert over 1,100 pounds of food waste, educate 6,900 people via press and media, and educate over 4,760 students in their community. To learn more about The Pear Tree Foundation and our other RISE Climate Solution Campaign Winners, visit https://lnkd.in/ge2zNKqn

Congratulations to our 2023-2024 Habitat Hero Award Winners, Matungu Community Development Charity 🎉🌎💚 Using their Grand Prize Eco-Grant from the 2022-2023 campaign, the Matungu Community Development Charity worked with local community members to plant thousands of indigenous tree saplings, while educating students on the impacts of climate change. Furthermore, the team reduced their food waste using innovative composting techniques such as cultivating larvae of the black soldier fly. Moving forward, the team set an ambitious goal to increase tree coverage by 10% within their community. To learn more about Matungu Community Development Charity and our other RISE Climate Solution Campaign Winners, visit https://lnkd.in/gUGx9fU7

Congratulations to our 2023-2024 Environmental Impact Grand Prize Winners, Whitney Eco-Club 🎉 🌎 💚 Long time participants of Grades of Green’s programs, the Whitney Eco-Club from Cerritos, California had an outstanding year promoting actions of sustainability. This student-led team set out to reduce textile waste by hosting a clothing swap and then creating homemade dog toys that were donated to a nonprofit at the Subaru Pacific Share the Love Event. The remaining clothing was donated to a local crisis shelter in order to ensure no item went to waste. Furthermore, the students completed the daunting application to become a California Green Ribbon School. In collaboration with school administration and district staff, the team was awarded the California Department of Education Green Ribbon Award. To learn more about Whitney Eco-Club and our other RISE Climate Solution Campaign Winners, visit https://lnkd.in/ge2zNKqn

Congratulations to our 2023-2024 LAcarGUY International Changemaker Grand Winners, GHS Buea 🎉🌎💚 The first year team, GHS Buea, from Buea, Cameroon had an incredible year by winning our LAcarGUY International Changemakers Award. With leadership from their facilitator Julius Chumbon, the students set out to organize waste sorting practices across their entire school to prevent excess waste from entering landfills. The team then utilized all of their food waste to create compost for trees and plants on their campus while organizing multiple clean-ups. With their Grand Prize Eco-Grant, the team plans to expand their efforts into other schools within their community and develop a nursery to cultivate plants at their school. To learn more about GHS Buea and our other RISE Climate Solution Campaign Winners, visit https://lnkd.in/ge2zNKqn

Last week, we celebrated the culmination of our SOAR Eco-Innovation Academy at Sustain-a-Thon! 🍃 Hosted by our longtime partner, Subaru Pacific, our event showcased the sustainability plans our SOAR students have been working on for several months. Plus, two students received $1,000 from our partners at Subaru Pacific and Ateliere! 🚙 Thank you to our corporate sponsors for providing their knowledge and insights for this year’s SOAR class 💫 And congratulations to all the students who participated this year and presented their innovative projects!

We are excited to announce the winning teams of this year’s Climate Solutions Campaign fueled by LAcarGUY 🎉 We are so inspired by each teams’ dedication for supporting the environment and creating long-lasting impacts for their communities and beyond! Thank you to our judges and campaign partners who make the RISE Climate Solutions Campaign and Eco-Grants possible 😊