LA's BEST Students Celebrate Water and Plastics Recycling

COMPTON, Calif., Nov. 16, 2010 /PRNewswire/ -- Today more than 12,000 students enrolled in the LA's BEST After School Enrichment Program celebrated the successful completion of the second "Go H2O! Challenge." The Challenge was created through a partnership between the plastics industries of the American Chemistry Council (ACC) and LA's BEST and aimed to educate children about the importance of drinking water for healthy living and the earth-friendly benefits of reusing and recycling plastics.

LA's BEST supporter and California Assemblymember Isadore Hall, III, sent a representative from his office in Los Angeles to congratulate the students at South Park Elementary School in his district.

"The health and education of our community's youth are top priorities for me, and I am happy to congratulate the students of LA's BEST on their completion of the second annual 'Go H2O! Challenge,'" said Assemblymember Hall. "I hope these students will continue to spread the message about recycling and healthy habits so we can all live in a healthier community."

As part of the Go H2O! Challenge, ACC provided LA's BEST participants at 88 sites in Los Angeles with reusable and recyclable water bottles. The bottles served to remind students to make a habit of reusing and carrying their water bottles while choosing water instead of sugary drinks. Throughout the program, students also learned about the importance of recycling plastics.

"The Go H2O! Challenge has been a wonderful addition to our program over the last two years and we are thrilled that more of our students and their families have had the opportunity to learn to reduce, reuse, and recycle," said Carla Sanger, LA's BEST president and CEO. "It is great to have the support of ACC as we work to encourage healthy habits and recycling awareness among our students."

Steve Russell, vice president of the American Chemistry Council's Plastics Division said, "We are happy to partner for a second year with LA's BEST on this program, which has reached tens of thousands of students in the Los Angeles area. It's great to see future generations learning about plastics recycling, drinking more water and getting excited about their health and the health of the environment."

LA's BEST After School Enrichment Program is a partner in the statewide recycling awareness campaign, "Plastics. Too Valuable to Waste. Recycle.™," which has found success in a variety of areas. The campaign began in 2008 when representatives from the California Department of Parks and Recreation, ACC and Keep California Beautiful launched a beach recycling program at State Parks sites in the Los Angeles and Central Coast areas. The program soon spread to State Parks beaches in San Diego, Monterey, Santa Cruz, the City of Brentwood and the City of Woodland as well as Caltrans rest stops in central and northern California.

About LA's BEST

LA's BEST - Better Educated Students for Tomorrow - is a nationally recognized after school education, enrichment and recreation program serving more than 28,000 children with the greatest needs and fewest resources throughout the City of Los Angeles. LA's BEST After School Enrichment Program provides a safe haven for children ages 5 to 12 at 180 elementary school sites each day during the critical hours after school - at no cost to parents. Established in 1988, LA's BEST is a partnership including the City of Los Angeles, the Los Angeles Unified School District and the private sector. For more information, please visit www.lasbest.org.

About the American Chemistry Council

http://www.americanchemistry.com

The American Chemistry Council (ACC) represents the leading companies engaged in the business of chemistry. ACC members apply the science of chemistry to make innovative products and services that make people's lives better, healthier and safer. ACC is committed to improved environmental, health and safety performance through Responsible Care®, common sense advocacy designed to address major public policy issues, and health and environmental research and product testing. The business of chemistry is a $674 billion enterprise and a key element of the nation's economy. It is one of the nation's largest exporters, accounting for ten cents out of every dollar in U.S. exports. Chemistry companies are among the largest investors in research and development. Safety and security have always been primary concerns of ACC members, and they have intensified their efforts, working closely with government agencies to improve security and to defend against any threat to the nation's critical infrastructure.

SOURCE American Chemistry Council