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NC Beautiful has announced that it is now accepting applications for its Yadkin PeeDee River Basin Grants. The grants, sponsored by Philip Morris USA, are available to 5th grade teachers in the Yadkin PeeDee River Basin. Individual grants of $1500 will be awarded between January 2009 and June 2009 and will be used to develop water conversation programs targeting the 22 counties hardest hit by North Carolina’s recent drought.
The Yadkin-PeeDee River Basin represents 1.4 million people in 91 municipalities, which embody all walks of life, including the employees and facilities of the Philip Morris USA plant in Cabarrus County, NC. Gary Ruth, General Manager & Vice President for Cabarrus Manufacturing Operations, said that the grant is consistent with PM USA’s efforts to conserve environmental resources. “Through our business practices and philanthropy, PM USA has implemented policies and programs to reduce the environmental impact of our business and promote the sustainability of the natural resources on which we depend,” Ruth said.
NC Beautiful Executive Director, Steve Vacendak, says that NC Beautiful has always addressed the environment through education, and the drought presented an opportunity to bring water conservation to the forefront. “Now is the ideal time to educate our young citizens on the importance of responsible water use,” says Vacendak. “We specifically targeted fifth graders for our grant since they are old enough to participate in real science and to influence their families in a positive manner, but young enough to absorb a lifelong passion for the natural beauty of their state.”
NC Beautiful plans to administer its water conservation grant in four parts: Part One is a classroom section, which will include a talk about local water sources and concerns; Part Two is hands-on study and analysis of a local creek, stream, or any local water source; Part Three requires the students to take what they have learned home “on assignment” and provide their family with ways to better conserve water; and Part Four involves a report prepared by the teachers, with their students, about the impacts of their project. Results of these reports will be shared with NC Beautiful sponsors, other North Carolina schools, PTA, and community groups in hopes of spreading this program throughout the state.
Since this grant is only available to 5th grade teachers in the Yadkin PeeDee River Basin, educators can verify eligibility by visiting h2o.enr.state.nc.us or by calling Rachel Golden at the NC Office of Environmental Education at (919) 733-0711. Grant guidelines and applications are available online and will be accepted from September 12, 2008 to November 12, 2008.
About NC Beautiful
NC Beautiful has been part of the state’s environmental preservation community for 40 years, supporting awareness, education and beautification efforts that affect our quality of life. Today, we concentrate on hands-on and merit-based programs designed to empower our citizens to preserve the natural beauty of the state of North Carolina. Whether it’s school children building outdoor classrooms, graduate students developing cutting edge research, or a Boy Scout troop planting azaleas at an elder care facility, we make it possible for North Carolinians to keep NC Beautiful.
About Philip Morris USA
Philip Morris USA is an operating company of Altria Group, Inc., a Virginia corporation whose stock is traded on the New York Stock Exchange (MO). PM USA is the nation’s largest cigarette manufacturer and for more than 20 consecutive years, has had the highest revenues, income, volume and market share in the U.S. cigarette business. PM USA is committed to supporting initiatives that link employees’ interests, business goals and the communities where its employees live and work.
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lcarey[.]ncbeautiful.org 
