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NC Beautiful, a provider of environmental education and beautification opportunities that elevate the quality of life of North Carolinians, has announced that it is begun accepting applications for its 2010 Windows of Opportunity Grants. The $1,000 grants are available to certified, full-time K-12 teachers in the state of North Carolina.
Windows of Opportunity provides educational grants to reward NC teachers for their creativity in fostering environmental stewardship, leadership, and awareness and initiating a sense of community service. In January 2009, NC Beautiful presented 19 educational grants, totaling $19,000, to North Carolina schools. NC Beautiful Executive Director, Steve Vacendak, hopes to see more teachers throughout the state of North Carolina apply for a Windows of Opportunity Grant and take advantage of the opportunity to help create excitement among students in helping to protect the state’s natural resources.
“The mission of NC Beautiful is to foster environmental stewardship through education and outreach, and one of the main ways we accomplish this is through our teachers,” says Vacendak. “It is our goal to offer a Windows of Opportunity Grant in all 100 counties in North Carolina, and I hope that educators all across our state will take advantage of this wonderful and rewarding educational opportunity.”
The Windows of Opportunity Grants were created to cultivate an appreciation of natural environments by helping children get out of school and into natural settings. The grants also build leadership awareness, develop environmental educational mentors and ambassadors, create materials and resources that can be used by other K-12 students, and develop a sustainable, outdoor program, which will continue well after the grant period ends. Applications are available on NC Beautiful's website and will be accepted from September 1 – November 10, 2009. For more information, contact Louise Carey at (919) 828-3190.
About NC Beautiful
NC Beautiful (ncbeautiful.org) has been part of the state’s environmental preservation community for over 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 North Carolina beautiful.
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lcarey[.]ncbeautiful.org 
