Carmel Green Teen Micro-Grant Program

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