The EPA, DoSomething.org and Olivia Munn Go Green for the Fifth Annual 'Green Your School Challenge'

NEW YORK, Feb. 7, 2012 /PRNewswire/-- DoSomething.org  is joining forces with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Nestle Waters North America (NWNA), and Olivia Munn in the name of Mother Earth to encourage the largest student-led focus on the environment by launching the fifth annual Green Your School Challenge on February 1.

The Green Your School Challenge which runs through April 22, invites students to select  from a number of environmental projects that can be conducted at school and accomplish as many of their goals as possible during the eight-week challenge.  Known for motivating high school students to lead creative green projects that reduce their schools' carbon footprints, the 'Green Your School Challenge' has mobilized over 350,000 teens to start recycling programs, save energy and promote environmentalism to date.  Green Your School Challenge participants will be reviewed by a 'green' panel of celebrity and expert judges, including Munn, for a chance to win awesome prizes.

To kick off this nationwide environmental movement, Nestle Waters North America partnered with DoSomething.org to create and implement the 'Don't be Trashy' initiative, which promotes recycling by encouraging teens to generate buzz online and push each other to take action offline. Teens everywhere are sharing eye-opening recycling statistics through Facebook, in hopes of being randomly selected to receive one of 20 $500 college scholarships and 500 free movie tickets.  Nestle Waters is also supporting the Green Your School Challenge by providing a $5,000 grant to the school that makes the biggest strides in recycling.

The EPA's ENERGY STAR program is supporting the Green Your School Challenge by providing educational information on optimal actions students can take at school and at home to make the biggest difference, particularly in saving energy and helping protect the climate.  All groups who complete energy efficiency projects will be eligible to receive up to $5,000 in prizes and incentives from Do Something.

This year the annual initiative launches with the help of environmental maven, Olivia Munn, who created a motivating new Public Service Announcement (PSA) pushing fans and teens alike to join the green party.

"We are very excited to partner with DoSomething.org on the 'Don't Be Trashy' campaign," said Christine Korduba, Nestle Waters Communications. "Our company is always seeking ways to reduce our environmental footprint and create enthusiasm about recycling. DoSomething.org's relationship with teens makes them the perfect partner because young people can really change behaviors and recycling is an important way we can all make a difference.  

"Protecting the climate has never been more critical than right now, and getting involved in DoSomething.org's 'Green Your School Challenge' is an effective way to actively teach teens about environmental protection through energy efficiency," said Ann Bailey, Director, ENERGY STAR Products Labeling at U.S. EPA.

"Teens know how to spread news fast," says Melanie Stevenson, director of business development at DoSomething.org. "The environment is consistently one of the top three causes teens care about, so why not tap into their gift for gab by encouraging teens to promote recycling and energy efficiency by sharing the projects they're completing to improve their school and home?"

"If I can help inspire people to do a little more to help protect our earth, then it's all worth it to me. Although it may seem like a chore or pain to turn off the lights or recycle, DoSomething.org helps make environmentalism fun, easy and instantly rewarding," says campaign spokesperson, Olivia Munn. "This planet belongs to all of us and we've only got one so we should all try and do something – no matter how small, it will make a difference."

To view Olivia Munn's PSA, please visit www.dosomething.org/GreenYourSchool.   

To learn more about "Don't Be Trashy," visit www.dosomething.org/trashy or text "TRASHY" to 38383 and students who want to register their school for the "Green Your School Challenge" can text GREEN to 38383 or visit www.dosomething.org/GreenYourSchool; classmates can join the efforts the same way. 

About DoSomething.org:
We love teens. They are creative, active, wired…and frustrated that our world is so messed up. DoSomething.org harnesses that awesome energy and unleashes it on causes teens care about. Almost every week, we launch a new national campaign. The call to action is always something that has a real impact and doesn't require money, an adult, or a car. With a goal of 5 million active members by 2015, DoSomething.org is one of the largest organizations in the US for teens and social change. Join us at www.DoSomething.org.

About Nestle Waters North America:
With 36 years experience promoting healthy hydration, Nestle Waters North America has 15 leading bottled water brands in the U.S. The company's commitment to environmental stewardship, especially in the areas of water use, packaging, and dedication to partnering in the communities where it operates, have led Nestle Waters to achieve the number one bottled water position in the U.S.

About the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's ENERGY STAR program:
The U.S. EPA's ENERGY STAR program helps us all save money and protect the environment through energy-efficient products and practices. Today, the Energy Star label can be found on more than 60 different kinds of products as well as new homes and commercial and industrial buildings that meet strict energy-efficiency specifications set by EPA.   Last year alone, Americans, with the help of Energy Star, saved about $20 billion on their energy bills while preventing greenhouse gas emissions equivalent to the annual emissions of 38 million vehicles.

SOURCE DoSomething.org