Pennies for the Planet BioBash

After raising over 154,497 pennies to contribute $1,544.97 for Audubon’s Pennies for the Planet campaign, nearly 1,200 elementary and middle school students and teachers in the school district of Hermitage, Pennsylvania have earned Audubon’s fourth annual BioBash event. 

2012 BioBash Winners – Hermitage School District

Hermitage raised more money than any other school in the nation this year (by the required May 5, 2012 deadline), earning the students and staff an assembly of environmental fun and learning before the end of the school year. To reward Hermitage students and staff for their hard work, National Audubon society naturalist Chris Rowlands, who is also a musician and puppeteer, will lead the school in an engaging performance of environmental fun and learning on Wednesday, June 6th.

“I’m amazed. Hermitage students, parents, and teachers pulled together this year to become our first-ever repeat top fundraiser. Bravo,” said Audubon President and CEO David Yarnold. “Pennies for the Planet shows students that their actions make a difference and that each of us can contribute to a healthier planet.”

Hermitage has participated in Pennies for the Planet during each of the four years of the program, raising a total of $5,565.41 for conservation projects around the country. Gifted Support Teacher and Science & Environmental Activities Coordinator Nancy Bires began spearheading collections throughout the school district after visiting Maine’s Hog Island and encountering an Audubon scientist there. “I was so impressed with Dr. Steve Kress’ work restoring the puffins to the islands of Maine. I wanted my students to understand what one person could accomplish,” she added. “I want them to understand that their actions impact the environment and that they can make good choices for the planet.”

What is Pennies for the Planet?

Pennies for the Planet is a powerful tool for motivating kids of all ages to become engaged in protecting biodiversity. Kids not only learn more about conservation, but also directly help protect it by raising funds and conducting environmental projects in their own communities. By teaching young people about threatened ecosystems and wildlife, Pennies for the Planet strives to connect young people and families with the environment and provide ideas about how they can help protect it. 100% of funds raised by students goes directly to helping conservation projects.

Where do the pennies go?

More than $100,000 has been raised through Pennies for the Planet in the past four years. Funds contributed during the 2011-2012 school year will be divided equally among three Audubon conservation projects:

• Restoring Texas’ one-of-a-kind Sabal Palm Forest by replacing invasive plants with native species, providing necessary habitat for local wildlife such as ocelots, buff-bellied hummingbirds, and green jays.
• Preserving North Carolina’s Lea-Hutaff Barrier Island by protecting habitat for the island’s threatened and endangered species. These islands provide a natural protection from extreme weather and play host to a variety of species, including beach-nesting birds such as piping plovers and least terns, as well as the endangered loggerhead sea turtle.
• Protecting the Alaskan Arctic Ocean by supporting scientists working to learn more about the Beaufort and Chukchi seas and the unique species that call this remote area home, including whales, ivory gulls, eiders, and polar bears.

You can still help!

Pennies for the Planet change collected through August 2012 will continue to support this year’s projects. Educational materials, including a full color poster and educators guide, a newsletter for kids, and a participation form with incentives and awards are available for download from www.penniesfortheplanet.org for classroom or at-home use.