Cellcom has selected two Manitowoc County and three Sheboygan County nonprofits to receive a share of its annual Green Gifts, which invests money from recycled cell phones back into environmental projects. Awardees include Woodland Dunes Nature Center & Preserve, Manitowoc County Historical Society, Sheboygan Senior Community, Bookworm Gardens, and the Environmental Park Trust of Sheboygan County.
Woodland Dunes Nature Center & Preserve manages over 1,500 acres of diverse habitats between Two Rivers and Manitowoc. Nearly 175,000 children have participated in the organization’s environment-based education programs since its inception in 1974. A $450 Green Gift from Cellcom will support pond dipping, a popular preserve activity allowing children and families to check out kits to explore and learn about aquatic insects, amphibians and other wildlife in the habitat.
The Manitowoc County Historical Society was founded in 1906 to preserve and share the rich history of the community. Located on 60-acres in the scenic rolling Ice Age Kettle Moraine countryside, Pinecrest Historical Village, the interpretive museum of local history, gives visitors a look back in time of early county settlers. A $300 Green Gift from Cellcom will help fund an heirloom garden within village grounds, providing historical environmental education and engagement for children and adults.
Sheboygan Senior Community is a residential care facility providing compassionate care, dignity, safety and comfort to all residents. A $300 Green Gift from Cellcom will help support their Pollinator and People-Friendly Pond Project as the community works to create an environmentally friendly space for animals and humans alike.
Bookworm Gardens is a vibrant and imaginative botanic garden centered around children’s literature, bringing more than 80 stories to life in garden form. A $500 Green Gift from Cellcom will be used to restore the garden’s vermicomposting infrastructure, part of the exhibit tied to Doreen Cornin’s 2003 book, “Diary of a Worm.”
Environmental Park Trust of Sheboygan County was founded in 1983 to provide programming and support to Ellwood H. May Environmental Park (Maywood). Designed to connect the community with the natural world, Maywood fosters environmental stewardship through educational and outdoor programs for children, families and adults with hands-on learning and volunteer opportunities. A $500 Green Gift from Cellcom will help build a new section of the existing boardwalk on park grounds, improving access to wetland habitats.
Thirty-one organizations received a share of the $20,984 in Green Gifts from Cellcom this year. The Green Gifts program uses funds generated from Cellcom’s cell phone recycling program to fund green nonprofit initiatives. Customers and community members are encouraged to bring in their old or unwanted phones to be reused and recycled. Cellcom ships the phones to recyclers who send money to Cellcom for the materials saved from them. Cellcom’s Green Gift program completes the green cycle that starts with consumers being environmentally conscious and donating their devices.
“Cellcom is focused on protecting the local environment and to investing in projects that give back to the communities where we live, work and play. From preserving and enhancing natural areas to providing research and educational programming, this year’s Green Gift recipients are leading the way for environmental causes locally,” said Mick O’Malley, director of sustainability at Cellcom. “We’re proud to support the many nonprofits throughout our service area that are not only working to conserve the local environment but also providing learning opportunities so people can help protect and enjoy the place we call home.”
Visit Cellcom’s website for the full list of award recipients. Cellcom is proud to support organizations of all sizes, whose work is impacting the community and building a greener tomorrow. The company’s recycling program has generated $624,920 for local charities over the past 21 years.
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