Girl Scouts Forever Green Helps Eliminate More Than 1 Billion Pounds of Carbon Monoxide from Earth's Atmosphere

NEW YORK, Jan. 7, 2014 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Girl Scouts of the USA is proud to announce the results of Girl Scouts Forever Green (GSFG), its signature 100^th anniversary "Take Action" project targeting waste reduction, energy conservation, and rain gardens. Alcoa Foundation provided a two-year, $1.5 million grant to expand the program globally to 12 countries. This grant enabled U.S. and international councils to work together and lead their families, schools, and communities in improving the environment and protecting natural resources.

The Girl Scouts Forever Green 100^th Anniversary "Take Action" project was created after Girl Scouts' research found that an overwhelming number of girls deem protecting the environment a top priority.

Harnessing its members' passion for preserving natural resources and focusing on three main projects: Reduce Waste, Earth Hour, and Rain Gardens, Girl Scouts and Alcoa concluded the Girl Scouts Forever Green project after saving 639 million kilowatts of energy, conserving 226 million gallons of water, and eliminating 1 billion pounds of carbon dioxide and 120 million pounds of waste in total.

The other environmental impacts include:

• 409,940 aluminum cans recycled
• 123,753 native plants/trees planted
• 2,462 wildlife fed and sheltered by rain gardens

"Although our girls might be famous for wearing the color green, it's clear that they are enthusiastic about 'going green' and working to preserve our natural resources," said Anna Maria Chavez, CEO, Girl Scouts of the USA. "As an organization committed to helping girls become leaders who make a difference in the world, we couldn't ignore their passion for the environment, and the generous contribution from Alcoa Foundation provided an outlet for girls to funnel their ecological energies."

Alcoa Foundation also sponsored nearly 700 Girl Scouts and Girl Guides from 12 countries within the World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts (WAGGGS) to "twin" together on local and global environmental projects. All of the projects engaged at least 400 additional youth, and more than 200 Alcoa (NYSE: AA) employees across the world served as volunteers.

"The two-year Girl Scouts Forever Green collaboration led to measurable impacts and impressive environmental projects by girls across the world," said Esra Ozer, President, Alcoa Foundation. "We are proud that more than 200 Alcoa employees donated their time and expertise to volunteer with the scouts, and that several troops were able to travel to other countries, visit Alcoa facilities, and learn first-hand about our own commitment to environmental sustainability."

The 12 countries with girls who participated in the Together Greening project are Australia, Brazil, China, Guinea, Iceland, Italy, Jamaica, Mexico, Suriname, the United Arab Emirates, the United Kingdom, and the United States.

About Together Greening
The Together Greening project is funded by a US$1.5 million Alcoa Foundation grant, which will support GSUSA's 100^th anniversary program, Girl Scouts Forever Green, and WAGGGS' global "Girls can save our planet" initiative. It is estimated that more than 25,000 people worldwide will be involved in the program, including more than 700 Girl Guides and Girl Scouts, 7,500 of their friends, and 24,000 members of the communities in which they live.

About Girl Scouts of the USA
Founded in 1912, Girl Scouts of the USA is the preeminent leadership development organization for girls with 3.2 million girl and adult members worldwide. Girl Scouts is the leading authority on girls' healthy development, and builds girls of courage, confidence, and character, who make the world a better place. The organization serves girls from every corner of the United States and its territories. Girl Scouts of the USA also serves American girls and their classmates attending American or international schools overseas in 90 countries. For more information on how to join, volunteer or reconnect with, or donate to Girl Scouts, call 800-GSUSA-4-U or visit us at www.girlscouts.org and https://twitter.com/girlscouts.

About Alcoa Foundation
Alcoa Foundation is one of the largest corporate foundations in the U.S., with assets of approximately $460 million. Founded 60 years ago, Alcoa Foundation has invested more than $570 million since 1952. In 2012, Alcoa Foundation contributed more than $21 million to nonprofit organizations throughout the world, building innovative partnerships to improve the environment and educate tomorrow's leaders for careers in manufacturing and engineering. The work of Alcoa Foundation is further enhanced by Alcoa's thousands of employee volunteers who share their talents and time to make a difference in the communities where Alcoa operates. Through the Company's signature Month of Service program, in 2013, a record 62 percent of Alcoa employees took part in nearly 1,300 events across 24 countries, benefiting more than 505,000 people and 1,900 nonprofit organizations. For more information, visit www.alcoafoundation.com and follow @AlcoaFoundation on Twitter.

SOURCE Girl Scouts of the USA