Change for the Environment

Over $12,000 was raised in the first annual Change for the Environment™ program. Belleville raised about $7,000 by itself, and in Toronto the Toronto District Catholic School Board schools raised over 75% of what was raised in Toronto, showing great leadership. Mayor Ellis of Belleville who launched the program and wants to see all communities in Ontario and Canada do Change for the Environment™ annually, said to the media “He was proud of the outcome considering it was the first year. I think one of the best things is it got the community engaged." He said he “had not anticipated the public reception or the buy in which was great.” He finished the interview by saying “It’s got nowhere to go but up”.

Many other organizations have expressed interest in getting involved in Change for the Environment™. Discussions are underway with all who have expressed interest, and it will be run in 2010 beyond Belleville, Trenton and Toronto.

We are a simple and annual environmental fundraising program, kicking off our first campaign this spring in Toronto, Belleville and Quinte West (includes Trenton), Ontario. From Thursday, April 30 to Sunday, May 3 we are inviting the residents of these three cities to collect some of their spare change (in change jars, swear jars and under sofa cushions) and drop it off at one of our convenient donation locations in their community. You can find your nearest location here.

Brinks Canada handles all donated money. Brinks will regularly pick up all the change at each donation location and transport it to coin counting facilities. Brinks will then have it deposited into the accounts of the environmental and health experts whose important and well-known work we are supporting. These experts will ensure the change you give will benefit the community where you made your donation.

100% (less the cost charged to roll & process the coin – 2-3cent/roll) of the funds you donate in your community benefit your community under the direction of local health and environmental experts. The costs to operate Change for the Environment™ are being assumed by concerned organizations like Quinte Pediatrics and Black Bear Ridge Golf Course.

Quite a lot actually, because helping our environment and health is not hard or expensive. But, it is up to us to act! For example:

1. About 5 loonies can buy one tree, which allows 2 people to breathe clean air for a lifetime;
2. Add 343 more trees per square kilometre and child asthma rates can drop by 29%;
3. The benefits provided by 500 trees equals taking one car off the road;
4. Over a 50-year lifetime, the U.S. Forest Service estimates that 1 tree generates a total of $162,000 (US$) worth of value for our environment and our health:
   
   
   • $31,250 worth of oxygen
   • $62,000 worth of air pollution control
   • $37,500 worth of naturally recycled water
   • $31,250 worth of soil erosion control; and
5. 300 trees counteract the amount of pollution the average person produces in a lifetime,and cleaner air results in better lung health.

In the late 1990s, we were provided with an estimate that there was about $2 billion in loose change in Canada. Based on the growth of funds since then and this original estimate, a major Canadian financial institution very recently (March 2009) estimated that the total amount of loose change in Canada is $3.3 billion.

We all know that there are tons of coins in Toronto, Belleville and Quinte West lying around doing nothing - collecting in swear jars and coin jars, and found in dresser drawers and glove compartments. It’s time we put all that spare change to work!

The quality of our environment and our families’ health are closely linked. As Dr. Paul Dempsey, pediatrician explains, “One of the most common reasons kids are coming to emergency rooms these day is asthma attacks brought on by pollution. It is also one of the major reasons children miss school. Changes for the Environment™ will not only raise awareness like Earth Hour does, it will actually raise funds that will have a positive impact in this community. That’s good for kids, pure and simple. It’s good for the rest of us too!”

“It’s time to turn our concern about the environment into action. That’s why Quinte Pediatrics is behind Change for the Environment™, and I am talking with pediatricians in other communities throughout Ontario, to encourage them to support Change for the Environment™.”

The following health and environmental experts will determine the best way to direct the loonies donated in your community:

• The Ontario Lung Association (www.on.lung.ca) for the three cities;
• Toronto and Region Conservation (www.trca.on.ca) for Toronto;
• Quinte Conservation (www.quinteconservation.ca) for Belleville; and
• Lower Trent Conservation (www.ltc.on.ca) for Quinte West.

Residents of Toronto, Belleville, and Quinte West can find their nearest donation location here. There should be one very convenient for you.

There are many individuals, companies and organizations helping to make the first annual Change for the Environment™ campaign a success. Some are hosting donation locations or are encouraging people in their community to participate, while others are providing their environmental and health expertise to ensure funds raised are effectively spent to benefit your community.

The complete list of our supporters can be found in the partners section of this site. All of them are united in recognizing that it is time for ACTION on the environment, and are pitching in to help. All of them also recognize it is up to the community to join in and help. Without you, there is no Change for the Environment™.