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EPA selects two Wilmington groups to receive Environmental Education Grants

Release Date: 12/3/2003
Contact Information: Roy Seneca (215) 814-5567

Contact: Roy Seneca (215) 814-5567
PHILADELPHIA - The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has selected two Wilimington organizations – the Partnership for the Delaware Estuary and the Delaware Center for Horticulture – to receive environmental education grants.

“These are two outstanding environmental education programs that demonstrate how learning about the environment can be educational and fun at the same time. These groups are using tools and training techniques that inspire enthusiasm in protecting our natural resources,” said Donald S. Welsh, regional administrator for EPA’s mid-Atlantic region.

The Partnership for the Delaware Estuary, Inc, was awarded $24,988 to support its Clean Water Theater project, which is a 25-minute education and interactive musical theater performance geared for children and adults. Under this program, local artists and musicians engage youth in becoming active and informed stewards of our environment. The project will provide 50 performances to more than 17,000 students throughout Delaware, southeastern Pennsylvania and southern New Jersey on watersheds, the Delaware Estuary, biodiversity, and storm water runoff pollution prevention.

The Delaware Center for Horticulture, Inc., has been awarded $8,000 to support its Horticultural and Environmental Leadership or HELP program. HELP is a four-week community-based, cross cultural, environmental education and outreach program targeted to teach Wilmington’s urban middle school population about environmental issues in their communities. The program focuses on activities about diversity and cultural competence, job expectations, self esteem, team building, community activism, leadership and personal and civic responsibility. EPA has worked to support the HELP project for the last three years, but this is first environmental education grant towards the project.

Since 1992, EPA has provided nearly $3 million annually to local organizations and schools nationwide. These grants fund education programs in nonprofit organizations, educational institutions, and governmental agencies supporting a wide range of environmental issues for citizens of all ages.

Visit http://epa.gov.enviroed/grants.html to find out more about EPA’s environmental education grants and online resources for communities, educators, and children.