About Us
About Carmel Green Teen Micro-Grant Program
In 2009, the makers of Green Works natural cleaners created the Green Heroes program to identify and fund five eco-friendly community projects across the country. Through this program, the local youth group Carmel Area Roots & Shoots was awarded $10,000 to fund its eco-friendly project called the Carmel Green Teen Micro-Grant Program. Although this funding was exhausted in 2011, the City of Carmel has offered to support the program in 2012 to educate the Carmel community and empower our youth. Over 90% of the group’s budget goes directly to funding the environmental youth projects.
Thus far, the Carmel Green Teen Micro-Grant Program has funded 16 hands-on, youth-driven green projects to help make Carmel / Clay Township a greener community. Please visit our environmental impact page. This program is unique in that it is created, developed, and administered by teens for the purpose of motivating and empowering other students within our community. Micro-Grants are reviewed by a committee composed of teens from Carmel Area Roots & Shoots, and students and adults from Carmel. United Way of Central Indiana’s Youth as Resources staff provides organizational support.
The Carmel Green Teen Micro-Grant Program and its members have been recognized for contributions to community education and youth empowerment by receiving the following awards:
EPA’s President’s Environmental Youth Award – runner-up Great Lakes Region 2009
Indiana Heroes Community Service Medals – 2010
Plastics are Forever Global Youth Summit Invitation – 2011
Jane Goodall’s Global Leadership Award – Roots & Shoots Youth Leadership 2011
Indiana Governor’s Award for Environmental Excellence in Education and Outreach 2011
Carmel Chamber of Commerce Images of Excellence Green Award 2011
About Carmel Area Roots & Shoots
Carmel Area Roots & Shoots (CAR&S) is a local youth group of about a dozen Carmel High School students. It is one of over 8,000 worldwide Jane Goodall’s Roots & Shoots groups that encourage youth to make positive changes that demonstrate care and compassion for people, animals, and the environment. To learn more watch Jane Goodall’s Roots & Shoots Turns 20, a short video celebrating 20 years of service-learning projects including the Carmel Green Teen Micro-Grant Program.
CAR&S’s largest project to date is creating and administering the Carmel Green Teen Micro-Grant Program. Since its inception in May 2008, CAR&S has participated in many service learning projects including: Arbor Day tree planting, multiple fundraisers, Cool Creek clean-up, door-to-door canned food drives, and a fund raising “field trip” to see Dr. Greg Mortenson, humanitarian and author of Three Cups of Tea.
About Jane Goodall’s Roots & Shoots
The Jane Goodall’s Roots & Shoots program is about making positive change happen—for our people, for animals and for the environment. With tens of thousands of young people in more than 120 countries, the Roots & Shoots network connects youth of all ages who share a desire to create a better world. Young people identify problems in their communities and take action. Through service projects, youth-led campaigns and an interactive website, Roots & Shoots members are making a difference across the globe. Carmel Area Roots & Shoots one of the many Jane Goodall’s Roots & Shoots groups participating in service learning projects, such as the Carmel Green Teen Micro-Grant Program.
About the City of Carmel
Mayor Jim Brainard and the City of Carmel have generously offered to sponsor the Carmel Green Teen Micro-Grant Program in 2012. With a population of over 79,000 residents, the city of Carmel, Indiana, located just north of Indianapolis, is committed to promoting environmental stewardship through community education. The City of Carmel has been recognized for its many environmental initiatives, including its numerous gas saving roundabouts, hybrid city vehicles, LED street lamps, and more. The Carmel Green Teen Micro-Grant Program sincerely thanks our city for its generous support and dedication to both the environment and to the youth of Carmel.
About Green Heroes Grant Program
Between January 15 and February 28, 2009, the Green Works Natural Cleaners team invited individuals to nominate eco-friendly community projects for a Green Heroes grant by submitting online a photo and short essay about the project for consideration. A panel of eco-experts including representatives from the Sierra Club, EcoFabulous.com and Josh Dorfman, the Lazy Environmentalist, reviewed all submissions and selected 10 finalists. The five winners were selected by popular online vote from March 23 until April 10, 2009. (For more information, click here.)
Through this program, the local youth group Carmel Area Roots & Shoots was awarded $10,000 to fund its eco-friendly project called the Carmel Green Teen Micro-Grant Program. From 2009-2011 this Green Heroes Grant covered the costs of administering our program, which included funding sixteen youth-led environmental projects in Carmel, Indiana.
About Youth as Resources of Central Indiana
Youth as Resources of Central Indiana (YARCI) is a youth philanthropy program that gives money, through small grants, for youth-led volunteer service projects. YARCI funds only youth groups (with nonprofit sponsors) that design and implement projects that address a real community need. YARCI’s mission is to promote learning through youth service, leadership and civic participation.
Although it does not directly fund the Carmel Green Teen Micro-Grant Program, YARCI provides the necessary knowledge and support for this youth-driven project. YARCI is a program of United Way of Central Indiana, and serves Boone, Hamilton, Hancock, Hendricks, Marion, and Morgan counties.
For more information regarding Youth as Resources of Central Indiana, please visit their website at http://www.uwci.org/yar.
