Earth Day Canada | Fundraising for wildlife rehab centre wins elementary school class national prize

For Immediate Release

Fundraising for wildlife rehab centre wins elementary school class
national prize

TORONTO (24/06/09) – Kindergarten students of Conrad Elementary School in Prince Rupert, B.C. will be recognized today as the grand prize winner of the primary category for Earth Day Canada’s Great EcoKids National Challenge. A ceremony will take place on campus to award the students for their commitment to a greener future for their school and community.

“This inspirational group of kindergarten students is a wonderful example for individuals and communities across Canada,” says Jed Goldberg, President of Earth Day Canada. “They rallied in support of a cause they believed in, promoted that cause within the community, and raised a lot of money and awareness in support of it. Simply fantastic work from these youngsters.”

To earn the grand prize, the kindergarten students ran a very successful fundraiser for the Prince Rupert Wildlife Rehab Shelter. The students made birdseed packages using recycled materials, with birdseed donated by Ocean Wild, and advertised the campaign to their school and local community. In all, the group surpassed their goal of $230, raising $1 800.

Through the campaign, students also learned about local wild birds and the dangers they face when migrating back for the spring. During the fundraiser, students also encouraged the public to learn more about our feathery friends by using recycled materials to create backyard bird feeders and attract local wildlife.

For their efforts, Sony of Canada Ltd., a proud sponsor of The Great EcoKids Challenge, awarded the school with a SONY 32” BRAVIA® M-Series High-Definition LCD TV. Each member of the kindergarten class will receive a SONY W-Series Walkman® MP3 Player. For more details on their initiatives, visit www.ecokids.ca.

EcoKids is Earth Day Canada's environmental education program for youth aged kindergarten through grade eight. Celebrating its 15th anniversary, EcoKids empowers young Canadian with environmental knowledge and hands-on activities, and presents this information in fun, exciting ways that increase awareness and encourage community involvement. Our multiple award-winning EcoKids web site (www.ecokids.ca) is an innovative, interactive environmental web site for children, their families, and educators around the world.

About Earth Day Canada
Earth Day Canada (EDC), a national environmental charity founded in 1990, provides Canadians with the practical knowledge and tools they need to lessen their impact on the environment. In 2004 it was recognized as the top environmental education organization in North America, for its innovative year-round programs and educational resources, by the Washington-based North American Association for Environmental Education, the world's largest association of environmental educators. In 2008 it was chosen as Canada’s “Outstanding Non-profit Organization” by the Canadian Network for Environmental Education and Communication. EDC regularly partners with thousands of organizations in all parts of Canada. www.earthday.ca

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To arrange an interview or request photos of the event please contact:
Keith Treffry | Communications Director | Earth Day Canada | 416.599.1991 x 107 | keith@earthday.ca