Brewer and non-profit partner for third annual grant competition
MillerCoors this week announced an $80,000 donation to River Network, a national non-profit organization with more than 650 local member organizations focused on water quality and watershed protection. As part of the third annual MillerCoors – River Network Grant Competition, watershed grants will be awarded to six local nonprofit organizations across the country.
Through an online voting competition on www.RiverNetwork.org, MillerCoors encourages the public to vote for the winning proposals. The proposed projects range from educating the public on water resources to conserving and protecting local watersheds. The finalist organization with the most votes will receive the largest grant, in the amount of $30,000. Second place will receive a $10,000 grant and the third will receive a $5,000 grant. The remaining three finalists will each receive $3,000.
“We are excited to build upon the momentum of the previous MillerCoors – River Network competitions and look forward to bringing meaningful programs to life with these community-focused organizations,” said Kim Marotta, vice president of corporate social responsibility for MillerCoors. “Water is one of the key ingredients in our great beers, and MillerCoors understands the necessity of protecting this resource both inside our breweries and importantly, in our communities.”
The River Network program aligns with MillerCoors commitment to water stewardship. The company has set a goal to reduce water usage to 3.5 barrels of water to one barrel of beer by 2015. The company also recently conducted a comprehensive watershed mapping exercise to better understand water risks in their eight major brewery communities.
“Healthy rivers are vital to a healthy water future,” said Todd Ambs, River Network President. “Thanks to the support and leadership from MillerCoors, waterways across the nation will be protected and restored for all people, fish and wildlife, and future generations.”
The public is encouraged to vote for one of the six finalists through March 20, 2011 at 5:00 p.m. (PST) at http://www.rivernetwork.org/2011-millercoors-watershed-grants-contest. Winners will be announced on March 24, 2010. More information on MillerCoors commitment to sustainable development and water stewardship can be found on GreatBeerGreatResponsibility.com. Details for each of the six finalist proposals follow:
West Atlanta Watershed Alliance; Atlanta, GA
This group will educate and engage low-to-moderate income West Atlanta residents in water efficiency and conservation. The goal is to help residents realize needed savings for their households and learn about residential rainwater capture, conservation, green infrastructure, stream monitoring, cleanups and stream bank stabilization.
River Revitalization Foundation; Milwaukee, WI
The organization will dedicate funds to reduce storm water run-off, improve habitat for wildlife and serve as primary entrance for recreation in the Milwaukee river valley. It will also allow for the restoration of major riparian habitat on a 2.8 acre riverfront parcel.
Friends of the Chicago River; Chicago, IL
The group will form a new program, Chicago River Eco- Warriors (CREW), to increase the number of river volunteers, expand the efforts of those already engaged and provide a forum for advancement. Volunteer participation will also be tracked across all of the organization’s programs and activities, and reward volunteers as they acquire hours and become “multipliers” of the mission.
Johnson Creek Watershed Council; Milwaukie, OR
The Council will restore six acres of riparian forest with native plantings and a trail overlooking the area. In addition, 16 newly- engineered log jams will provide cover for threatened salmon throughout a quarter-mile reach of Johnson Creek, where it flows into the Willamette River.
North Carolina Big Sweep; Zebulon, NC
The organization will coordinate a statewide cleanup and implement a litter awareness campaign to help improve water quality in all 100 counties in North Carolina.
Savannah Riverkeeper, Inc; Augusta, GA
The group will restore 15- acres in the riparian zone of the Savannah River in downtown Augusta. The goal is to remove debris and rehabilitate the shoreline of abandoned car parts along the river. The area will be converted to a nature education center and international disc golf course.
You can read more about the finalists on River Network’s blog: www.RiverNetwork.org.
