TCP is the presenting sponsor of the Cleveland Metropark Zoo’s 2008 summer attraction, entitled, “Frogs, Hogs & Dogs”.   In addition, TCP has also committed to sponsoring the Recycling Center at the Zoo.  A large part of the Cleveland Metroparks Zoo’s mission is focused on conserving the natural world around us. Not only is the Zoo concerned about the lives of the plants and animals exhibited, but also about the natural resources used there every day.  The Zoo Recycling Center collects a wide variety of items, including cell phones, inkjet/toner cartridges, phone books, CFLs, appliances, tires, and much more.  Click here for the complete list. 

Also, now through the end of the year, TCP will donate $3 for every package of CFLs (compact fluorescent lamps) you buy online to the Zoo’s initiatives to help South American rainforests. To take advantage of this fundrasing opportunity, simply purchase CFLs from SpringLightStore.com, and use the promotional code CLEMETZOO at the time of checkout.

“The Zoo is very grateful that companies like TCP make such significant commitments to help us with some very important conservation work,” said Zoo Director Steve Taylor. “Through these new partnerships we’re able to make it a lot easier and more practical for people to help the environment.”

What does “being green” mean to you? This will be the question asked to K-12 students in Chicago, Miami and San Francisco city schools this fall with the launch of the groundbreaking “Green Schools Initiative“, spearheaded by CBS Corporation and EcoMedia.

TCP is serving as the program’s official lighting sponsor and will work with U.S. mayors and local governments to “green” a winning school in each of the three cities. Encouraging young students to take an active role in protecting the environment, TCP has also incorporated its school fundraising program into the initiative, giving students the opportunity to sell CFLs and raise money for extracurricular activities or environmental projects.

TCP will provide the winning schools with energy efficient lighting products for a complete retrofit. The green makeovers, which are due to be complete by Spring 2009, may also include solar panels, green roofs and tree planting.

As Back-to-School ads creep their way in to our Sunday papers, we are reminded that:

A. marketing can bring anyone back to reality, and

B. it’s time for many parents of school-age kids to start getting hit up for their support in PTA fundraisers for the upcoming school year.

Typically fundraisers turn children in to junk-food peddlers, making them hawk everything from cookies, candy and nuts to wrapping paper and other supplies.

Things are starting to change….It seems that fundraising may be “going green” like many other facets of daily life.  A recent Wall Street Journal article points out that many fundraising efforts are turning to “green” products to reinvigorate their fundraising efforts. Ahead of this curve, TCP launched a CFL school fundraising program last year called “Click, Save and Raise“. For every pack of light bulbs sold , the child’s school receives $4.00.

The School “Click, Save and Raise” program was so successful, TCP opened up the concept to non-school groups and organizations through a corporate “Click, Save and Raise” program. Churches, club’s and other groups can now raise money by selling TCP’s commercial brand of SpringLight CFLs.

If you are interested in learning more about the program for your school or organization, please contact Jenifer Oldsey.