Funding Pours in for Green Valley Initiative

The economic development agencies of both Riverside and San Bernardino counties have committed $25,000 each to the process of identifying and promoting clean and green technology opportunities and projects for the region - efforts that will bring jobs and grow business in the Inland Empire. The Morgan Family Foundation, a non-profit benefitting youth, education, environment and stewardship, has pledged a $50,000 matching grant to help fund a detailed action plan developed by Silicon Valley mastermind and economist Doug Henton of Collaborative Economics, Inc. The study will pinpoint strategies and approaches to take when GVI is formally launched as an independent entity in January.
These funding sources come on the heels of a $100,000 grant awarded to GVI last month by Southern California Edison.

GVI is a regional economic development plan launched in 2007 to promote renewable energy sources, alternative fuels, biotech, nanotech and other sustainable industries in Riverside and San Bernardino counties, a Southern California region referred to as the Inland Empire. To date, the boards of supervisors of both counties, the Western Riverside Council of Governments and more than 25 cities and public agencies have adopted resolutions in support of the initiative.

"Riverside County's Economic Development Agency has been a key partner in the Green Valley Initiative since its inception," said Sarah Mundy, assistant director. "These next steps are vital to identifying future projects for the region and seeing them through."

"Thanks to the generosity of the county EDAs and the Morgan Family Foundation, the Green Valley Initiative will continue to gain the momentum required to accomplish our goals," said Ali Sahabi, who helped launch GVI in 2007 through his nonprofit, GIVE. Sahabi is president of SE Corporation, a land-planning and entitlement company specializing in sustainable communities.

GIVE is a nonprofit organization established in 2006 to promote balance in the way people live, how their choices impact the environment and others in their community. For more information visit www.giveforthefuture.org.

Various agencies and nonprofits contribute $200,000 to the mission's next steps: forming an independent entity and action plan to be implemented in January, 2009

GIVE ADOPTS JFK MIDDLE COLLEGE HIGH SCHOOL IN NORCO

The official partnership will encourage the exchange of ideas between the nonprofit
and the students, in an effort to promote sustainability.

NORCO, Calif. – The Green Institute for Village Empowerment has adopted its first school campus, John F. Kennedy Middle College High School, in an attempt to help spread the message of sustainability to today’s youth.

The adoption was formalized at a special assembly Thursday involving several Corona-Norco Unified School District officials, more than 600 students and GIVE founder, Ali Sahabi. This is the first school adoption for both GIVE and the JFK campus.

“This is a wonderful adoption and very applicable to JFK,” said Corona-Norco School Board President Cathy Sciortino. “It reflects the philosophies of John F. Kennedy, to ‘Dream of things that never were,’ and I believe that GIVE embodies that idea.”

Under the terms of the adoption, GIVE will educate JFK students about sustainability, and the students will spread the message through presentations they will make to elementary schools, said JFK Principal Don Ward.

“This adoption is meant to be a people-people thing,” Ward said. “It’s all about the positive exchange of ideas and collaboration.”

GIVE is a nonprofit organization established in 2006 to promote the concept of sustainability, a term used to define balance in the way people live, how their choices impact the environment and others in their community. Sahabi explained the concept at the assembly.

“We all make decisions every day that affect our future,” Sahabi told the students. “As we make these decisions, we need to be aware of how our actions impact the people around us, and our environment, our natural resources, animals and plants.”

Many students in the audience Thursday wore T-shirts they received as volunteers at GIVE’s Green Valley Earth Festival held in April at Dos Lagos in Corona. Several stood up and applauded when Sahabi finished speaking.

More than 300 JFK students have signed up as members of GIVE, and the campus is the first high school to establish a student chapter of GIVE, Ward said.

In addition to its educational outreach, GIVE is also the sponsor of the Green Valley Initiative, (GVI), an unprecedented regional economic development plan to promote green technologies, renewable energy, alternative transportation and sustainable lifestyles to the Inland Empire. Launched in 2007, GVI began with 100 stakeholders from the region, and now boasts the involvement of more than 500 people representing government, education, business, transportation, utilities, environmental groups and the community-at-large. For information on GIVE visit www.giveforthefuture.org. For information on GVI, visit www.greenvalleynow.org

John F. Kennedy Middle College High School is located on the Riverside Community College campus in Norco and is based on the Middle College Concept, first implemented at New York City’s La Guardia Community College Campus in 1971. Middle College High Schools provide students with an opportunity to successfully pursue and obtain a high school diploma while taking college level courses on a college campus. For information, visit www.cnusd.k12.ca.us/jfk/

Green Valley Initiative Receives $100,000 Grant

The Green Valley Initiative (GVI) has been awarded a $100,000 grant from Southern California Edison (SCE) to help further the progress being made to promote clean and green technologies in Riverside and San Bernardino counties.

GVI is a regional economic development plan launched in 2007 to promote renewable energy sources, alternative fuels, biotech, nanotech and other sustainable industries in Riverside and San Bernardino counties, a Southern California region referred to as the Inland Empire. To date, the boards of supervisors of both counties, the Western Riverside Council of Governments and more than 25 cities and public agencies have adopted resolutions in support of the initiative.

"Southern California Edison is excited to see the cities, counties, businesses, universities and community leaders of the Inland Empire working together to establish a better future for the region," said Les Starck, SCE Vice-President of Local Public Affairs. "The Inland Empire is ideally suited for these types of technologies for a variety of reasons, most notably its anticipated population growth, proximity to major transportation hubs and its boundless sunshine. We look forward to being a part of this important transformation for Inland Southern California."

Starck will present the grant to GVI Chairman Ali Sahabi Thursday at the U.S. Department of Commerce's National District Export Council Conference at the Wyndham Hotel in Palm Springs. The conference, "Travel & Trade, Redefining Exports," has dedicated a portion of its programming to clean and green industries, particularly those highlighted through the Green Valley Initiative.

Sahabi said the grant will help fund the necessary steps toward establishing an independent, regional entity that will assume operations of GVI in January.

"Southern California Edison is leading by example, showing the world that it makes good business sense to support the environment, support community and to support initiatives designed to benefit others," Sahabi said. "We are pleased to partner with them on this important effort."

GVI is a project of the Green Institute for Village Empowerment, (GIVE), a nonprofit organization established in 2005 to promote balance in the way people live, how their choices impact the environment and others in their community. GIVE hosts events and initiatives, and sponsors college campus chapters to educate the public on issues related to sustainability, a term used to describe this social, economic and environmental balance.

Sprinklers 1, Dos Lagos 0: Movies by the Lakes takes a wet turn!

In the event you missed tonight’s presentation of Shrek II at the Lakes at The Promenade Shops at Dos Lagos...it was a fun-filled evening with the movie beginning at the start of dusk.

A cool breeze, balloon Artists, free glow-sticks for the kids, a great movie well attended...and then (roll music here) the sprinklers went off 15 minutes before the movie ended; talk about your classic movie ending.

To Dos Lagos Management credit, they were apologetic, accommodating (handing out free passes to the Krikorian Theater) and reassuring this would not happen again.

My suggestion...attend the next event (Thursday June 12th at 6:45 PM), get there early and bring your umbrella (just in case).

Jazzin’ on The Promenade at the Dos Lagos Amphitheater in Corona, CA

Join us every Saturday in July from 6:30 to 9:30 PM for Jazzin’ on The Promenade at the Dos Lagos Amphitheater in Corona, CA. The smooth jazz line up includes Steve Oliver, July 5; Jackiem Joyner, July 12; Greg Adams, July 19; and U-NAM, July 26. ADMISSION IS FREE TO THE PUBLIC. Information: Call (951) 277-7601 or visit www.PromenadeShopsAtDosLagos.com. Directions: 1-15 exit Wierick Road/Dos Lagos Drive; left on Temescal Canyon Road; left on Lakeshore Drive. The amphitheater is located next to the Promenade Shops at Dos Lagos between Citrus City Grille and TAPS Fish House & Brewery.

Corona, CA GIVE Receives $50,000 Grant from Bank of America Charitable Foundation

The Green Institute for Village Empowerment (GIVE) today received a $50,000 grant from the Bank of America Charitable Foundation in support of ongoing policy, education and economic development programs promoting balance between the way people live and the impact those decisions have on the environment.

The grant funding will support GIVE’s monthly symposiums, community events, Green Valley Earth Festival, and the Green Valley Initiative, a regional economic development plan designed to bring green technologies and jobs to the Inland Empire, www.greenvalleynow.org

Al Arguello, Inland Empire Market President for Bank of America, praised GIVE for its efforts to galvanize Riverside and San Bernardino counties under the Green Valley Initiative to bring green jobs to the Inland Empire.

“GIVE’s efforts to bring together the region’s most influential leaders to develop comprehensive approaches to educate and promote sustainable strategies is to be commended,” Arguello said. “By working with our business and community leaders, GIVE is demonstrating how green technology can be an economic driver in the Inland Empire.”

The grant is part of Bank of America’s $20 billion environmental initiative to support the growth of environmentally sustainable business activity to address global climate change. Bank of America’s 10-year initiative encourages development of environmentally sustainable business practice through lending, investing, philanthropy and the creation of new products and services.

Les Hamasaki, Executive Director of GIVE, thanked the Bank of America Charitable Foundation for its generous support.

“Bank of America is leading by example, showing the world that it makes good business sense to support the environment, support community and to support initiatives designed to benefit others,” Hamasaki said. “GIVE is pleased to partner with such an organization in the efforts we take so closely to heart.” For information, visit www.giveforthefuture.org.