California Safe Schools Announces Partnership with 1% for the Planet

For more information, contact:
Melody Badgett, 1% for the Planet
melody [at] onepercentfortheplanet.org
+1 (802) 496-5408


Los Angeles, CA, October 2, 2013 – California Safe Schools is a new nonprofit partner of 1% for the Planet, an alliance of over 1,200 member companies in 48 countries that give one percent of revenues to environmental causes.

California Safe Schools is now eligible to receive donations from 1% member companies, placing them among a diverse, global network of environmental organizations. 1% member businesses fuel this non-profit network through their annual contributions, which totaled over $22 million in 2011. Partnership with 1% greatly expands the potential pool of funding to which California Safe Schools can look to for support.

Newly approved California Safe Schools contributes to a healthier planet by successfully implementing policies and programs that embrace the Precautionary Principle and Right to Know.

Over 3,000 non-profits worldwide are included in the 1% network, and over $100 million has been funneled to its nonprofit partners to date. “The intent of 1% for the Planet is to help fund these diverse environmental organizations so that collectively they can be a more powerful force in solving the world’s problems,” Yvon Chouinard, founder of 1% for the Planet.

“Children absorb more toxins relative to body weight than adults, and their developing brains, organs, nervous systems and immune systems may be more vulnerable to toxins. Studies increasingly show how toxic chemicals harm the body even at low doses, as in parts per trillion, and the more often a child is exposed to chemicals, the greater the chance of harm. Government regulations and manufacturers of synthetic chemicals, however, determine exposure-threshold levels based on a healthy adult male who weighs 160 pounds.

As rates of childhood cancer, asthma, neurological disorders, endocrine and hormonal disorders and birth defects increase, environmental-justice advocates recognize there is no better time than now to protect our children's health",said Founder and Executive Director Robina Suwol.



About 1% for the Planet

Started in 2002 by Yvon Chouinard, founder and owner of Patagonia, and Craig Mathews, owner of Blue Ribbon Flies, 1% for the Planet is a growing global movement of over 1,350 member companies in 43 countries that donate one percent of their sales to environmental organizations worldwide. Each day, more than one new business joins the 1% for the Planet movement. As a network, the 1% community has become a frontrunner in funding the work of environmental groups around the world. To learn more about 1% go to: http://www.onepercentfortheplanet.org



About New Nonprofit

California Safe Schools is a children’s environmental health and environmental justice coalition founded in 1998 by Robina Suwol. CSS achieved national prominence by spearheading the Los Angeles Unified Integrated Pest Management (IPM) Policy, the most stringent pesticide policy in the nation for K-12 public schools and the first to embrace the “Precautionary Principle” and “Right to Know”. The success of the policy led to California’s Healthy Schools Act. Today the LA Unified IPM policy serves as an international model for school districts and communities.

On October 6, 2005, Governor Schwarzenegger signed AB 405 (Montanez) sponsored by California Safe Schools. The bill bans experimental pesticides, whose health effects are unknown, from California k-12 public schools. As a result more than 6 million California children and hundreds of thousands of school children are protected from experimental chemicals whose health effects are unknown.

CSS continues to be a leader on children’s environmental health, with an emphasis on schools and environmental justice communities. Under Suwol’s leadership, CSS has facilitated changes at the policy level as well as at the grassroots which creates a lasting institutional protection.

website: http://www.calisafe.org