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Medina Family Foundation Donates to Dream in Green
On December 12, 2012, the Medina Family Foundation made a $5,000 contribution to Dream in Green. Taking advantage of the match provided by the Miami Foundation and the Knight Foundation, the Medina family Foundation chose this day to make their significant contribution, its first to Dream in Green. The foundation was established in 2011 to expand opportunities for youth in the Miami area. The grant to Dream in Green will be used to expand the Green Schools Challenge in lower-income schools and increase leadership opportunities, STEM-based environmental education, and access to green jobs.
A Successful Fundraiser for Dream in Green
Give Miami
On December 12, 2012 Dream in Green participated in Miami's biggest charitable event of the year, Give Miami Day. This online fundraiser was launched by the Miami Foundation and helped raise $1,239,362 for 300 local nonprofits in Miami-Dade that are making a difference. The event was a success for Dream in Green with over 40 participants who donated a total of $8,660. Dream in Green sends a warm thank you to all our generous sponsors who made a donation. We are also grateful to the Miami Foundation for matching 12% of all contributions given to Dream in Green during Give Miami Day.
See the leaderboard.
Thank you to all our donors:
Peter Utting, Eric Wenke, Karla Gottlieb, Gabriole Van Bryce, Carroll Kelly, Nick Gunia, Kelly Melchiondo, Jenny May, Matthew Flax, Alison Miller, Meital Stavinsky, Christopher Block, William Burdette, Derek and Alina Leon, Jacci Bramlett-Williams, Sarah Garman, Eric Gottlieb, Roman Krislav, John Parker, Gloria Romero Roses, Marilyn Gottlieb-Roberts, Maura O'Donnell, Carlos Canino, Manuel Medina, Leonie Timothee, David McDowell, Cecilia Simmons, Jennifer Buttrick, Stefanie Tatalias, Brett Spiegel, Marilyn Spiegel, Joshua Young, Matthew Gunia, Karina Hilton Spiegel, Paola Pierre, Maria Pienkowski, Mark Needle, and Sean McCrackine.
TD Charitable Foundation Donates
The TD Charitable Foundation, funded by TD Bank, recently donated $2,500 to Dream in Green’s Green Schools Challenge as part of the bank’s commitment to giving back to the community. The funds from the TD Charitable Foundation will support the development and expansion of the Green Schools Challenge program during 2012-13. This funding will be used to prepare, coach and support teams of teachers, administrators and facilities staff from public, charter and private K-12 schools to meet the following objectives:
- 1) Educate students about energy efficiency and energy’s connection to water & waste through hands-on, STEM-based lessons and classroom activities;
- 2) Encourage student-led green initiatives in the classroom and school that decrease the school’s carbon emissions;
- 3) Motivate students to take the message home so as reduce energy and water consumption at home and to promote recycling; 4) Foster leadership skills in students by engaging them in student-led community activities.
Supporting the communities where TD Bank employees live and work has long been one of TD Bank's core values. TD Bank’s mission is to strengthen the fabric of neighborhoods, and improve and enrich the lives of community members by supporting local organizations. In particular, TD Bank is committed to promoting economic empowerment, youth development and community involvement. TD Bank, America’s Most Convenient Bank® and the TD Charitable Foundation provide financial and other support to affordable housing initiatives, financial literacy, and education and the environment.
2012-13 Green Schools Challenge Kicks Off!
Dream in Green (DIG) kicked off its 7th Annual Green Schools Challenge (GSC), on Monday, September 17, 2012, with a Professional Development Training for over 150 K-12 teachers, administrators and facilities staff. The training was held at Westland Hialeah Senior High School and was hosted by Dream in Green, Miami-Dade County Public School District (MDCPS) and Westland Hialeah Principal Guillermo Munoz, who opened the event with a warm welcome for attendees. DIG founder Nick Gunia, thanked teachers, administrators and school staff for their dedication to saving energy and reducing their school’s carbon footprint. Mr. Jaime Torrens, Chief Facilities Officer, MDCPS, represented Superintendent Carvalho and thanked everyone for helping the District meet their energy-reduction goals. Mr. Pepe Solares, FPL’s Regional Manager, expressed appreciation to teachers for the inspiration they provide the community.
Mr. Solares and FPL sponsored the workshop’s breakfast and lunch.
The all-day training provided teachers with instruction on the GSC program through large and small-group sessions led by DIG’s Executive Director Gabriole Van Bryce, MDCPS Eco-Sustainability Officer Ana Rijo-Conde, Green Schools Challenge Coordinators Lesmarie Nicholson and Karla Utting, and GSC Mentor Teachers Vilma Quevedo, Gail Jenkins, Mari Avetrani, Elvira Perri, Vanessa Kastellanos, Michel Estopinan, Gwen Foote, Kristin Trompeter and Rosa Rengifo
Florida SSS-aligned GSC materials were distributed at the workshop and teachers ended the day by creating their own action plan for implementing the GSC program back at their school. Vegetable seeds, including unusual Heirloom varieties, were also distributed to teachers for planting in their school gardens. The Fantasy Theatre Factory was also present and signed-up schools for performances of their ‘Never Everglades’ show, geared to K-6 students. The show helps students understand the role of the Everglades in the lives of all Floridians and is funded by Miami-Dade County
Go Green with the 2012-2013 Green Schools Challenge!
Dream in Green will kick off the seventh year of its award winning environmental education program, the Green Schools Challenge (GSC), on September 17, 2012 with a professional development training workshop for K-12 teachers, administration and facilities staff.
This year the workshop will bring together over 100 elementary and secondary schools and over 200 teachers dedicated to environmental sustainability. The all-day workshop will train teachers to effectively implement the GSC at their school. Teachers will learn how to create student Green Teams, conduct energy walk-through surveys, develop action plans for energy reduction and resource efficiency and empower students to lead monthly challenge activities related to energy conservation, waste reduction and recycling, water conservation, green transportation, green buildings and green careers. Students will build leadership skills by organizing an end-of-year School Eco-Summit to display all their green projects and will take lessons learned home.
This year’s workshop will be held at Westland Hialeah Senior High - 4000 West 18 Avenue - Hialeah, Florida 33012 from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. All GSC materials are FL-SSS/Next Generation aligned and offer teachers new ways to engage students in activities that foster community involvement and academic success.
Schools can now register to participate in the program by calling Dream in Green, 305-576-3500, or emailing Karla (karla [at] dreamingreen.org) the application form. Master points are available for the program!
DIG & MD County Partner to Promote Green Business Certification
Dream in Green and Miami-Dade County are celebrating our local green economy by hosting a series of workshops and events in August and September to encourage and support businesses wanting to “go green” through the County’s Green Business Certification (GBC) program. This no-cost and voluntary program recognizes and verifies County green businesses, and also provides businesses wanting to green their operations with step-by-step, how-to guidance. The program is offered to Miami-Dade County businesses in the office, retail, restaurant, garment cleaning and dental health sectors. Hotels that have received the State of Florida’s Florida Green Lodging Program (FGLP) designation are also pre-qualified for the County’s Green Business Certification program. Once certified, participating businesses in the GBC Program receive marketing support as a Miami-Dade County-Certified Green Business on the County's website, http://green.miamidade.gov and other program benefits. The program evolved out of Miami-Dade County’s Sustainability Plan, GreenPrint, and reflects the County’sVibrant Economy goal.
"Becoming a County-certified green business has many advantages that contribute to a business’ bottom line and long-term profitability," says Gabriole Van Bryce, Executive Director of Dream in Green. "Our County’s no-cost program provides verification to businesses seeking 3rd-party recognition for being truly sustainable or ‘green.’ The program provides profitable operating strategies that encourage the efficient use of natural resources in order to preserve environmental and human health. The program also lays the foundation for our community’s long-term economic prosperity, sustainability, adaptability and durability."
Dream in Green Awards Green Innovator
Each year, Dream in Green recognizes a hand-full of local leaders with its Green Innovator Award. This Award recognizes organizations who are making a conscious, dedicated and outstanding effort to ensure that future generations will have the natural resources they need to be healthy and prosperous. The winner of the Green Innovator Award is also an organization that give back to the community, especially to our young people, so they will be prepared for a lifetime of success and environmental stewardship. This year, one of Dream in Green’s Green Innovator Award went to the Miami Marlins.
On Wednesday, June 27, 2012, Dream in Green presented the Green Innovator Award to Claude Delorme, Executive Vice President, Marlins Ballpark Operations and Alfredo Mesa, Executive Director of the Marlins Foundation. The Marlins Stadium is the first LEED-certified baseball stadium in the United States. The Green Innovator Award recognized the Miami Marlins Stadium planners and management who designed, constructed and continue to operate the stadium under a thoughtful plan that saves energy and water, reduces waste, recycles and creates a healthy place for anyone who works at or visits the stadium.
Dream in Green also recognized the Miami Marlins Foundation, for its dedicated commitment to serving the Miami community, especially its youth, through the Foundation’s long-term vision and community programs. We congratulate the Marlins and are grateful for the difference they are making in our community.
Be part of South Florida’s Circle of Green Leaders! Join Dream in Green!
On Thursday, June 28, 2012, 7 p.m. - 9 p.m., Dream in Green is launching its first-ever Membership Party at SOBE’s leading hot spot, the Shore Club. Shore Club General Manager and local green leader Tim Nardi is hosting the event to bring together DIG friends and colleagues, new and old, for this momentous celebration. Join the 1st wave of Founding Members and go down in history as being someone who stepped 'up and out' to build tipping point-capacity for community sustainability. Whether you're a serious green professional, savvy green life-styler or in the 'green sandbox', a DIG founding membership provides diverse, high-profile value and long-term impact for the community.
DIG supporters are at the cutting-edge of knowledge and on the front lines of action. They are the creative change-makers, the movers and shapers of trends and technologies that are transforming South Florida's future. Become a Dream in Green Founding Member today and you'll be part of South Florida's circle of sustainability leaders - people who are making a difference in the future of our community each day.
For more information about DIG's affordable founding memberships and to RSVP for the event, call 305-576-3500.
2011-12 Awards Ceremony Honors Forty-Three GSC Schools
On May 24, 2012, Dream in Green honored the forty-three winning schools of this year's Green Schools Challenge at its 6th Annual End-of-Year Awards Ceremony. The event, hosted by long-term sponsor, Stearns Weaver Miller, was attended by Green Schools Challenge teachers and their guests, MDCPS VIPs, Dream in Green Board members and representatives from DIG corporate sponsors: the Carlisle Development Group, Bank United and the Weiss Family Foundation. School Board member, Dr. Tee Holloway, kicked off the event with inspiring words of praise for teachers and their accomplishments.
This year, there were six Award categories: 1) Top Energy Savers; 2) Top Overall GSC Score; 3) Monthly Challenges; 4) Best Facility Manager; 5) Student Leadership; 6) Innovation in Education. The Top Energy Savers Awards went to: 1st Place: Charles Drew Elementary (saved 28%); 2nd Place: Ojus Elementary (saved 15%) and; 3rd Place: Redland Middle (saved 12%).
The Awards for Top Overall Green Schools Challenge Scores went to:
1st Place: Hubert O. Sibley K-8 (76 Points);
2nd Place: Dante B. Fascell Elementary (75 Points);
3rd Place: Ethel Koger Beckham Elementary (74 Points);
Top Independent School: St. Stephen’s Episcopal Day School;
Top Broward School: Atlantic West Elementary School
Dream in Green's distinctive Greenometer Awards were given to schools that had saved the most energy from September to April and also to those schools that had collected the most Green Schools Challenge points throughout the school year. This year’s Awards incorporated artist Raiza Miranda’s unique tree sculptures, made from recycled paper and plastic. Schools and their student Green Teams received prizes that were donated by the Miami Science Museum, Miami Seaquarium, Fairchild Tropical Botanical Gardens, Everglades National Park, Miami Children's Museum, Adrienne Arsht Center, Miami-Dade County Water & Sewer, and eco-restaurants La Vie en Raw and Escopazzo.
Visit Dream in Green on Facebook to see more event photos.
More News + Events
• Febr 3, 2012 'Every Drop Counts' Posters Create 'The Ripple Effect'
• Jan 23, 2012 - Green Schools Challenge Mid Year Meeting Hosted by Energy Winners
• Sep 29, 2011 - Full speed ahead for Green Schools Challenge 2011-12!
• Sep 29, 2011 - Back to School: Green Schools Challenge 2011-12!
• Aug 26, 2011 - Green Schools Challenge a Finalist in Inktel Direct Grant
• May 18, 2011 - DIG + Miami-Dade County Public Schools honor 105 Schools!
• Apr 1, 2011 - Dream in Green Celebrates 5th Anniversary
• Dec 1, 2010 - 12 Home Energy Savings Workshops Delivered
• Oct 21, 2010 - Dream in Green Wins Great Miami Chamber of Commerce’s Sustainable South Florida Award for Green Education & Outreach
