Schmidt Family Foundation Pledges $125,000 Donor-Match to Cradle to Cradle Products Innovation Institute to Ignite Innovation
SAN FRANCISCO, May 12, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- The Cradle to Cradle Products Innovation Institute announced today that the Schmidt Family Foundation will match dollar-for-dollar donations to the Institute for up to $125,000 if received by June 13. This new donor-match initiative aims to ignite innovation in product development toward a safer and healthier world.
"Since we established our foundation in 2006, we have worked to advance the wiser use of energy and natural resources. As part of that mission, we believe it's time to focus on networked approaches and bold ideas, moving us beyond outdated 20th century economic models and towards a new, restorative operating system," said Wendy Schmidt, President of the Schmidt Family Foundation and a board member of the Institute. "This $125,000 donor-match program is designed to further innovative development of products that are free of harmful materials and processes that can be implemented globally. We're delighted to lead the charge on this initiative."
The Schmidt Family Foundation's mission is to advance the creation of an increasingly intelligent relationship between human activity and the use of the world's natural resources. Mrs. Schmidt has been a founding supporter and board member of the Institute since its inception in 2010, donating $1 million to help launch the nonprofit geared to guide manufacturers making products free of harmful ingredients and unsafe development processes, as well as be a resource for architects, specifiers and consumers to find safer alternatives on the market.
"We are so grateful for Wendy and the Schmidt Family Foundation to offer this generous gift, especially at such a critical juncture for us," said Bridgett Luther, President of the Institute. "In the past three years, we have certified hundreds of new products under the Cradle to Cradle Products Standard, in large part thanks to the continued generosity of Wendy and her family's Foundation, but there is still a long way for us to go to share safer, healthier and more recyclable products for all."
Donors are asked to donate now before June 13 and during the week of June 9-15, slated as a soon-to-be announced international celebration of Cradle to Cradle Products Innovation. Donors can match funds through the Institute's website c2ccertified.org.
About Cradle to Cradle Products Innovation Institute
The Cradle to Cradle Products Innovation Institute is a non-profit organization whose mission is to turn the making of things into a positive force for people, the economy, and the planet. They steward the Cradle to Cradle Certified Product Program, which is a system for assessing and constantly improving products based upon five categories: material health, material reuse, renewable energy, water stewardship, and social fairness. The Institute is headquartered in San Francisco, California with satellite offices in Amsterdam, NL, Venlo, NL and Raleigh, NC.
About Schmidt Family Foundation
Established in 2006 by Wendy and Eric Schmidt, The Schmidt Family Foundation works to advance the wiser use of energy and natural resources and to support efforts worldwide that empower communities to build resilient systems for food, water, and human resources. For more information, please visit http://www.11thhourproject.org/
SOURCE Cradle to Cradle Products Innovation Institute
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