FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Partnership creates new revenue stream for participating schools and opportunity to teach students about protecting the environment
Prince George's County, MD -- May 15, 2023 - Planet Aid, a nonprofit organization dedicated to protecting the environment and funding community development projects, is pleased to announce a new partnership with Prince George's County Public Schools (PGCPS) to raise funds for participating schools while preventing reusable clothes and shoes from ending up in landfills.
Through the PGCPS Adopt a School Program, Planet Aid will expand its used clothing collection efforts district-wide. Planet Aid provides schools with a unique way to generate funding for educational programs as well as opportunities for service learning for their students. The program encourages the students to think creatively about how they can reduce waste, and the value of reusing textiles.
"Planet Aid currently supports 10 elementary schools, five middle schools, and two high schools in Prince George's County, a relatively small portion of the 198 schools and centers in the district," said Eric Newman, Planet Aid's Director of School and Community Programs. "This partnership enables Planet Aid to increase its positive impact on the environment and in communities around the globe, all while reducing local landfill waste and raising more money for schools."
Planet Aid contributed $4,200 to participating Prince George's County schools in 2022. This partnership has the potential to increase that figure significantly in 2023 and beyond.
"We are thrilled to partner with Planet Aid to bring this important initiative to Prince George's County Public Schools," said Dr. Monica Goldson, PGCPS Chief Executive Officer. "This partnership will provide much-needed funds for our schools, while offering us hands-on opportunities to teach our more than 131,000 students about the importance of reusing textiles and reducing waste. It's a win-win for everyone involved.
Reducing landfill waste and raising additional money for PGCPS is just the beginning. The positive impact of donating clothes reverberates across the globe. In the U.S., Planet Aid employs 225 people to collect and resell clothes. Most of the clothes are shipped abroad where they support a second-hand clothes industry that creates millions of jobs. Finally, the money raised by reselling collected clothes is used to fund community development programs around the globe that promote education, sustainable agriculture, health and wellbeing and environmental protection.
"Providing ways for our students to do something positive for the environment and for their community is crucial," said Goldson. "It teaches the youth the value of living a sustainable lifestyle and encourages society to reduce consumption and reuse items as often as possible before discarding. And partnering with Planet Aid makes it easy for all schools to make a positive impact."
About PGCPS Adopt a School Program
The Prince George's County Public Schools Adopt a School Program connects businesses, organizations, and individuals with schools to support and enhance student learning. The program seeks to establish long-term relationships between schools and their partners, with the goal of improving academic achievement, enhancing student self-esteem and strengthening community involvement in public education. Website: https://www.pgcps.org/offices/community-partnerships/adopt-a-school-program
About Planet Aid
Planet Aid is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that collects and recycles used clothing and shoes to protect the environment and support sustainable development in impoverished communities around the world. Planet Aid operates in 17 U.S. states and has collected over 1.5 billion pounds of used clothing and shoes since its inception more than 25 years ago. The funds raised through the sale of used textiles are used to support international development projects through Planet Aid's partners in the Humana People to People Federation. Read more at www.planetaid.org
Media Contact:
Haley Chitty
Planet Aid Communications Manager
(443) 401-6939
media@planetaid.org