2012 Media Releases

Date:

March 6, 2012

For More Information Contact:

Emily McKeone, Lincoln Earth Day Coalition, Cleaner Greener Lincoln, 402-250-4100, emily@lincolnearthday.org

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Community Invited to Get Involved in Earth Day Events

The Lincoln Earth Day Coalition is offering a variety of ways for the public to participate in the City's Earth Day Celebration Sunday, April 22. The day includes morning fun runs at Wilderness Park, an afternoon celebration in Antelope Park, an evening of native seed planting at Pioneers Park Nature Center and Earth Night at the Rococo Theatre. Businesses, governmental agencies, nonprofit groups and individuals are urged to get involved in making the day a success.

For more information and to register to get involved, visit lincolnearthday.org. The deadline for these opportunities is Monday, April 9:

• Sponsorships are available at five levels - $50 (Recycler), $100 (Reducer), $250 (Renewer), $500 (Sustainer) and $1,000 (Earth Champion). Recognition levels rise with the donation amount and include promotion on the event map, inclusion on announcements throughout the events and free exhibitor booths.
• Exhibition booths are available for the celebration from noon to 5 p.m. Booths should have an educational or promotional objective that ties into Earth Day or the environment. Booths cost $50 for businesses and $25 for nonprofits and governmental agencies. Booths are free for sponsors donating $250 or more and for student organizations.
• Food vendors may sell fruits, vegetables and baked goods that do not include ingredients that can spoil (e.g. cheeses, meats, spreads). The fee is $25 plus a 12-percent tax.
• Any person, business or organization with an entertainment or activity idea is encouraged to apply for a Green Space Activity at no cost. Last year's activities included demonstrations of rain barrels and solar power. The Earth Day Coalition will determine which applications qualify for Green Space.
• Gather friends and family to compete in the Earth Day Run at 7:30 a.m. at Wilderness Park. Children age 12 and under may run the one-mile loop, and adults may run a 5k race. Prizes will be awarded to the male and female first- place winners in each race.

Other opportunities to participate include the following:

• Individuals age 16 and up as well as groups can sign up for two-hour volunteer shifts to help make Earth Day a success. Registration will be open until all shifts are filled.
• Participants in Earth Day Ignite will have five minutes to give a presentation on the environment using 20 or fewer slides. Those interested in appearing on stage during the Earth Night event at the Rococo should apply online.
• Local artists are invited to have their environmentally-themed artwork on display at the Earth Night celebration art show at the Rococo Theatre. Interested participants should apply online.

Lincoln Earth Day is being organized by Mayor Beutler's Cleaner Greener Lincoln initiative, WasteCap Nebraska and a team of volunteers.