Real Goods Funds Earth Day

Gaiam Real Goods Funds Earth Day for Disadvantaged Kids

Thanks to your support as Gaiam Real Goods customers through the generosity of your purchases, we’re improving the Solar Living Institute’s popular Earth Day for Disadvantaged Urban Youth program. In 2008, we plan to inspire hundreds of disadvantaged elementary school kids by bringing them to the Solar Living Institute in Hopland, California, to learn about solar panels, biodiesel and recycling and to make cob from mud and straw and eat solar-oven baked cookies. Your continuing support will help this program grow (see p. 8-9 for products that include donations to the SLI).

In May 2007, the SLI hosted its second group of disadvantaged kids — around 50 elementary schoolers from Bret Harte Elementary School in the very poor Hunter’s Point district of San Francisco. Many of these kids had never been across the Golden Gate Bridge, let alone to an environmental paradise. Hands on, they experienced the wonders of cob building, renewable energy, solar water pumping systems, biodiesel technology, solar cooking and recycling. A great educational experience was had by all.

In addition to its Earth Day for urban city kids, the SLI also expanded its (formerly) one-day Earth Day for Kids programs to more than 30 days in 2007, which served to educate and inspire more than 1,000 kids who are rapidly becoming our earth stewards of the future.