Last Week for Chance to Win $20,000: Green Effect Project

Your have less than one week left to submit your green ideas for the chance to win one of five $20,000 grants -- money to help bring your green ideas to life in your neighborhood.  It’s all part of the Green Effect program, a partnership between SunChips and National Geographic. To enter your ideas, simply submit a short essay describing how you would use the grant money to spark a green movement in your community.

The Green Effect program has already stimulated a lot of interest and participation. You can read the more than 1,300 green ideas that we’ve received since the program launched on Earth Day, from the Green Effect Web site. 

Nicolle Poole, the Frito-Lay Assistant Manager of Marketing leading the program, has read every entry and tells me that many of the green ideas fall into one of three categories: Local community gardens, personal home improvement to reduce energy and water consumption, and recycling and composting.  But each of these green ideas also has its own unique twist, making each entry interesting to read.

There are also some are very novel ideas.  For example, one entry provides a roadmap that could help save the honey bees in a particular community.  And, other ideas hit home with me because they promote my favorite exercise activity -- biking.  Some entries propose building bike paths and providing bike rentals in urban neighborhoods.

One of the $20,000 grant winners will be chosen by consumers in July (online voting –- stay tuned for details), and the other four winners will be chosen by a distinguished panel that was named last week, including Oscar-winning actor Edward Norton!

The Green Effect winners will also be featured in National Geographic magazine and have the opportunity travel to Washington D.C. and share their green ideas with environmental leaders.

So put on your thinking cap and submit your green idea before it’s too late. Who knows, your idea could help make a positive environmental impact on your community.  Visit the Green Effect Web site now –- all entries are due on Monday, June 8. Good luck!