A New Sustainability Initiative by Lauren Winkler More than twenty five years ago, when I was living in Germany, I noticed that nearly all drivers turned off their vehicle engines when stopped at a traffic light. It was one of many cultural differences I observed that sparked my curiosity. A German friend explained, while pointing out a young mother pushing her bundled baby in a sturdy pram, that this was done “for the air, for everyone, but mostly for the children!” According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) hazardous air pollutants emitted from vehicles, also known as mobile air toxics, have the potential for serious adverse health effects, including cancer, respiratory illness and birth defects. Children are particularly susceptible to air pollution and these risks for several reasons. Their smaller stature exposes them to higher concentrations of vehicle emissions that […]
Trick-or-Treat for UNICEF
While enjoying all the festivities of Halloween, Middle School students sponsored a school wide fundraising event to support Trick-or-Treat for UNICEF, adding some deeper meaning to their Halloweening. UNICEF, the United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund, initiated its first Trick-or-Treat event in 1950 to help children left vulnerable after World War II. Popularity of the program continued to grow, and was fueled by TV appearances in 1959 on Lassie, when the beloved collie carried an orange collection box, and in 1969 when an entire episode of Bewtiched highlighted the cause. In the 1990’s, famous poet and writer, Maya Angelou, served as the organization‘s Ambassador. Funds collected in 2002 were dedicated to the eradication of polio. More recently, in 2015, the 65th anniversary of Trick-or Treat for UNICEF was celebrated by teaming up with Charlie Brown, Snoopy and the rest of […]