Community Corner

Local Environmental Nonprofits Vie for Votes and $25,000

The ECO Ambassadors People's Choice Awards highlights San Diego area "green" nonprofit organizations- vote for your favorite to help them win extra funds.

Representatives of some of San Diego's most active environmental nonprofits gathered at the Mission Trails Regional Park Visitor’s Center Tuesday morning to kick off the ECO Ambassadors People's Choice Award campaign.

Locals are encouraged to go online and vote for the organization they think deserves an extra boost of funding, starting Nov. 11. The organization that gets the most votes will receive $25,000, second place $10,000 and each entrant is guaranteed $2,000.

Eight organizations were selected for "exemplifying environmental stewardship, innovation and responsibility," according to the program sponsors, the San Diego River Park Foundation, San Diego Gas and Electric , and CBS8.

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Displays by each organization were laid out, and a short video was played summarizing what each nonprofit is doing locally. The event was also a great chance for the nonprofits to network and spark ideas for collaboration.

You can learn more about the ECO Ambassadors People's Choice Award campaign and vote for your favorite nonprofit at the CBS8 website (voting begins Nov. 11).

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The eight organizations are:

  • Project Wildlife- rehabilitation, education and conservation
  • Lakeside River Park Conservancy- "Our mission is to preserve and restore the biological integrity and beauty of the San Diego River while integrating recreational, educational, and cultural opportunities for citizens of East County."
  • Mission Trails Regional Park Foundation- Preserving, improving, and maintaining MTRP
  • The Science Exchange- "The only non-profit organization that creates affordable, customized, individual sea turtle research internship packages for U.S. undergraduate and graduate science students."
  • San Elijo Reserve Conservancy- "A nonprofit land trust dedicated to protecting and enhancing San Elijo Lagoon Ecological Reserve and its watershed."
  • San Diego Green Building Council- Works with communities and nonprofits to transform buildings into "green," sustainable environments.
  • Olivewood Gardens- "Community and garden resource facility located in National City" that features "hands-on cooking classes and master gardeners, scientists, and educators that volunteer as field instructors to teach gardening classes."
  • San Diego Coastkeeper- "...protects the region’s inland and coastal waters for the communities and wildlife that depend on them by blending education, community empowerment and advocacy."

Last year's winner was the San Diego Botanic Garden.


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