MLS WORKS, Continental Tire and the Portland Timbers hosted an Earth Day Service Project at Hosford Middle School today.
Timbers midfielder Darlington Nagbe assisted a few Hosford students for a tree planting. In total, 13 new trees were planted around Hosford in honor of Earth Day 2013. Other Timbers players on site assiting in the Hosford Environmental Beautification unveiling included: Jack Jewsbury, Jake Gleeson, Ryan Kawulok, Brent Richards, Sal Zizzo and Sebastian Rincon. Timbers owner and president, Merritt Paulson, was also in attendance as was a representative from MLS corporate partner Continental Tire. Portland Public Schools Superintendent Carole Smith also attended the event and kicked off the all school assembly led by Timber Joey.
In advance of the project, Timbers Creative Designer, Matti Jonsson, asked Hosford students, "What Does Green Mean to You?" and out of the students' responses created a sustainable mural at Hosford.
To showcase all of the environmental projects conducted at Hosford as part of the Hosford Environmental Beautification (which was presented by MLS WORKS, Continental Tire and the Portland Timbers) Timber Joey took Hosford students and faculty on a walking tour around the school grounds.
The Earth Day Service Project from MLS WORKS, Continental Tire and the Portland Timbers included more than $10,000 in added donations from the Portland community and Portland-area businesses, which helped in making the following projects possible at Hosford:
- BEF solar panel installation and subsequent Solar4Schools learning materials
- Student-designed, green-themed mural
- Custom bike racks, including an art bike rack created by Oregon-based designer Matt Cartwright
- Helmet and bike lock giveaways to Hosford students and faculty who ride a bike to work
- Reusable water bottles for every student at Hosford
- New Elkay drinking fountain, which will reduce the amount of plastic water bottles used at the school and track the number of plastic bottles saved from landfills
- Tree-planting and beautification of the entrance to the school
- Permanent directional signage to display the environmental benefits of the project to the Portland community
- Creation of communal gathering places on the school campus
Thank you to the following organizations that donated their services to the project at Hosford: Kelly Fitzpatrick with Benchmark, Lower Columbia Estuary Partnership, Grey to Green Tree Program, City of Portland Environmental Services, Portland Public Schools Project Facilities and Communications staff, CAL Portland, Portland Nursery, and City of Portland Transportation and Safe Routes to School.
MLS WORKS Greener Goals identifies ways to reduce our carbon footprint and helps raise awareness for environmental issues throughout the soccer community. The greening of our game will encourage MLS clubs, players, corporate partners and fans to create a cleaner, healthier environment.
