GM Foundation Donates $100,000 to New York's Central Park Conservancy

DETROIT, Sept. 10, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- The GM Foundation is donating $100,000 to aid the Central Park Conservancy's "Keeping it Green" service learning program to introduce pre-kindergarten through 12th grade students to the importance of preserving and caring for New York City's Central Park.

(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20130910/DE77594 )

The program, offering age-appropriate environmental and horticultural information to school groups, previously engaged more than 500 students annually. With the help of the GM Foundation, the Conservancy will add weekend sessions for families, which is expected to increase program participation by 30 percent. Additionally, a downloadable resource for educators will be available in 2014 to help spread the program beyond the Park to any classroom.

"The 'Keeping it Green' program is a wonderful way to bring unique learning experiences to students and families, while helping to maintain the beauty of Central Park," said GM Foundation President Vivian Pickard. "Through this program, we are committed to helping students gain respect for this and the world's other important parks and natural resources."

To mark the occasion, 20 teamGM Cares Volunteers from GM's New York City offices completed a variety of tasks in the Park today, including the removal of invasive plant material and spreading mulch near the Great Lawn.

"The GM Foundation's support of the Keeping it Green Program will allow the Conservancy to provide environmental stewardship opportunities to families in the City's greatest outdoor classroom – Central Park," said Doug Blonsky, president and CEO of the Central Park Conservancy and Central Park Administrator. "Their partnership helps sustain Central Park as a one-of-a-kind, shared backyard to all New Yorkers."

About the Central Park Conservancy: The mission of the Central Park Conservancy is to restore, manage and enhance Central Park in partnership with the public, for the enjoyment of present and future generations.  A private, not-for-profit organization founded in 1980, the Conservancy provides 75 percent of Central Park's park-wide expense budget and is responsible for all basic care of the Park. For more information on the Conservancy, please visit centralparknyc.org.

About the GM Foundation

Since its inception in 1976, the GM Foundation has donated hundreds of millions of dollars to American charities, educational organizations and to disaster relief efforts worldwide. The GM Foundation focuses on supporting Education, Health and Human Services, Environment and Energy and Community Development initiatives, mainly in the communities where GM operates. For more information, visit www.gm.com/gmfoundation.

SOURCE General Motors Foundation