Green Apple Day of Service kicks off with strong commitments

Published on: 
May 03, 2012
Author: 
Emily Riordan

The Center for Green Schools had barely begun to take our plans for Green Apple Day of Service on Sept. 29 beyond water cooler conversations, when two powerhouses came forward asking how they could help: Interface Global and Harvard University.

When two sustainability leaders want to know how they can be a part of your next big idea, you start to think you might be onto something.

With 75 LEED Certified buildings, you might call Harvard an early – and aggressive – adopter. So it shouldn’t have surprised us when a tweet came over the wires in early March.

@Harvard_GBS: Signed up to host @USGBC #GreenAppleDayOfService event on 09/29. Sign up online http://j.mp/w1jQLP @mygreenschools

A tweet was all it took to get our attention, and Harvard became one of the first institutions outside of USGBC to commit to participate in our Day of Service. We can’t wait to see what kind of projects the experienced team at the Harvard’s Green Building Services comes up with in and around Cambridge, and how they inspire other higher learning communities to follow suit.

Another longtime leader of the pack came from a very different direction within a few weeks. Interface Global announced at last month’s Milan Design Week that they will encourage its employees, customers and suppliers to volunteer with school projects in the communities where it operates around the world, underscoring the carpet tile manufacturer’s design and sustainability leadership. As one of the first international corporations to join the efforts, and with an employee base who volunteered more than 10,000 hours in 2011, we couldn’t be more thrilled to have such a committed and respected partner.

These two are just the beginning, and it will take all of us to make Green Apple Day of Service a success. Visit mygreenapple.org to get project ideas, pick up tools and tips for recruiting volunteers and getting your project off the ground, and register your event with the Center. We’re up and running, and we need you to maximize your efforts to make a difference.

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