Technology innovator Toshiba is currently sponsoring a Facebook contest for charitable nonprofits that includes a grand prize valued at $100,000.

Toshiba’s Helping the Helpers Technology Makeover Video Contest is open to all qualifying tax-exempt charitable organizations that create a video (up to a maximum of two minutes in total viewing length) telling Toshiba about your charity’s mission and goals, and how it would benefit from a “Technology Makeover” (e.g. receiving technological devices such as copiers and/or computers to enhance the charity’s goals and objectives). All entries will be publicly posted on www.facebook.com/ToshibaForGood during the contest period, and must be received no later than January 7th, 2012. Five prizes totaling $214,000 will be awarded the following month.

Click here for more information and official contest rules.

 

 

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced that the Agency is seeking applicants for $1 million in environmental justice small grants expected to be awarded in 2012. EPA’s environmental justice efforts aim to ensure equal environmental and health protections for all Americans, regardless of race or socioeconomic status. The grants enable non-profit organizations to conduct research, provide education, and develop solutions to local health and environmental issues in communities overburdened by harmful pollution.

The 2012 grant solicitation is now open and will close on February 29, 2012. Applicants must be incorporated non-profits or tribal organizations working to educate, empower and enable their communities to understand and address local environmental and public health issues. EPA will host four pre-application teleconference calls on December 15, 2011, January 12, 2012, February 1, 2012 and February 15, 2012 to help applicants understand the requirements.

Environmental justice means the fair treatment and meaningful involvement of all people, regardless of race or income, in the environmental decision-making process. Since 1994, the environmental justice small grants program has provided more than $23 million in funding to community-based nonprofit organizations and local governments working to address environmental justice issues in more than 1,200 communities. The grants represent EPA’s commitment to expand the conversation on environmentalism and advance environmental justice in communities across the nation.

More information on the Environmental Justice Small Grants program and a list of grantees: http://www.epa.gov/environmentaljustice/grants/ej-smgrants.html.

Environment Justice Small Grants 2012 Request for Proposals and schedule of pre-application teleconference calls: http://www.epa.gov/environmentaljustice /resources/publications/grants/ej-smgrants-rfp-2012.pdf

NEWS RELEASE

California ReLeaf

Contact: Ashley Mastin, Program Manager

916-497-0037

December 12, 2011

Ready your Crayons! Pick up your Cameras! Plant a Tree!

California Arbor Week Contests Highlight the Importance of Trees

Sacramento, Calif. – Two statewide contests are being held to celebrate California Arbor Week, March 7-14, a statewide celebration of trees. These contests are designed to increase awareness of and appreciation for the trees and forests in the communities where Californians live, work and play. Winners will be featured at the State Fair and awarded cash prizes.

Third, fourth, and fifth grade students throughout California are invited to participate in the California Arbor Week Poster Contest. The contest, titled “Growing Happy Communities” is designed to increase the student’s knowledge of the important roles of trees and the many benefits they provide to our communities. In addition to contest rules and entry forms, the contest information packet includes curriculum for three lessons. Entries are due by February 1, 2012. Sponsors include: California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, California Community Forests Foundation, and California ReLeaf.

All Californians are invited to participate in the inaugural year of the California Arbor Week Photography Contest. The contest is designed to highlight the broad diversity of tree species, settings, and landscapes throughout our state, in locations urban and rural, large and small. Photographs may be entered in two categories: My Favorite California Tree or Trees Where I Live. Entries are due by March 31, 2012.

Contest information packets can be downloaded at www.arborweek.org.

California Arbor Week runs March 7-14 every year to mark famed horticulturist Luther Burbank’s birthday. Last year, legislation was passed to define California Arbor Week in statute. California ReLeaf is raising money to fund tree-planting initiatives and support local organizations for 2012’s celebration. Visit www.arborweek.org for more info.

 

About California ReLeaf

California ReLeaf works statewide to promote alliances among community-based groups, individuals, industry, and government agencies, encouraging each to contribute to the livability of our cities and the protection of our environment by planting and caring for trees. The California ReLeaf Network is a state-wide forum for exchange, education, and mutual support for community-based organizations that share the common goals of planting and protecting trees, fostering an ethic of environmental stewardship, and promoting volunteer involvement.

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The following online urban forestry courses are being offered through the Oregon State University Ecampus Program:

FOR/HORT 350 Urban Forestry – Winter Quarter 2012

This introductory urban forestry course is ideal for anyone working in urban natural resources, parks and recreation, public works, or planning fields. It covers a wide breadth of urban forestry topics. Prerequisite is any introductory forestry or horticulture course, or prior experience working in an urban natural resource environment. This course is currently only being taught Fall and Winter quarters.

FOR/HORT 455 Urban Forest Planning Policy and Management – Winter Quarter 2012

This advanced urban forestry class is a required course in the new BS in Natural Resources – Urban Forest Landscape Option, and is also suitable for any Forestry, Natural Resources, or Horticulture Student who is planning to work in urban areas. It would also be ideal for people relatively new to the urban forestry profession who would like some in-depth knowledge and experience working on urban forestry issues in a learning environment. Prerequisite is FOR/HORT 350 or experience in urban forestry. This course is currently only being taught Winter quarters.

FOR/HORT 447 Arboriculture – Spring Quarter 2012

This is a technical class exploring the principles and practices of arboriculture. Prerequisite is an intro Forestry or Horticulture class, and a plant or tree ID class. This course is currently only being taught Spring quarters.

For details, visit http://ecampus.oregonstate.edu.

 

Alliance for Community Trees is pleased to announce the Alliance for Community Trees People’s Garden Grants, a new program designed to explore and deepen the connections between community trees and urban agriculture. Now in their pilot year, the ACTrees People’s Garden Grants will promote the connections between trees and urban agriculture by supporting the planting of shade trees to shelter and protect community gardens, and fruit and nut trees to serve as food resources for surrounding communities.

The total sum of grant awards is $125,000, which will be distributed in grants of up to $5,000 each to awardees. Applications are due January 31, 2012. Click these links to download further information about the grant and the grant application. Inquiries may be directed to gro.seerTCAnull@smargorP.

An informational webcast on December 15 at 1pm EST will feature additional background and details about the grants, as well as time for Q&A. Register for the webcast here.