NC Beautiful Accepting Applications for 2009 Windows of Opportunity Grants

Educational grants promote environmental stewardship in North Carolina K-12 schools

RALEIGH, NC – NC Beautiful, a provider of environmental education and beautification opportunities that elevate the quality of life of North Carolinians, has announced that it will begin accepting applications for its 2009 Windows of Opportunity Grants on September 1. The grants are available to certified, full-time K-12 teachers in the state of North Carolina. Windows of Opportunity provides $1,000 grants to reward NC educators for their creativity in fostering environmental stewardship, leadership, and awareness and initiating a sense of community service. In January 2008, NC Beautiful presented thirty-two educational grants, totaling $32,000, to North Carolina schools. Each grant applicant is required to complete a five-section online application, which includes a two-page project narrative, budget, and commitment letter, which commits the school to complete the projected work. NC Beautiful Executive Director, Steve Vacendak, hopes that teachers throughout the state of North Carolina will apply for a Windows of Opportunity Grant. “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 across our state will take advantage of this wonderful 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 online at www.ncbeautiful.com/webpages/application-registration.nsf/register.html and will be accepted from September 1 – November 10, 2008. For more information, contact Louise Carey at (919) 828-3190 or lcarey@ncbeautiful.org 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. For more information, visit www.ncbeautiful.org. Media Contacts Steve Vacendak, Executive Director, NC Beautiful, (919) 828-3190, svacendak@ncbeautiful.org Louise Carey, Programs Manager, NC Beautiful, (919) 828-3190, lcarey@ncbeautiful.org