Southeastern awarded Healthy Communities Grant
Friday, September 25, 2020
by: Tonya Lowentritt
HAMMOND – Southeastern Louisiana University has been selected as a recipient
of the Healthy Communities Grant by Keep Louisiana Beautiful, the State’s premier
anti-litter and community improvement organization.
This year’s grant, in the amount of $8,000, will support Southeastern’s reduce,
reuse, recycle initiatives with the addition of four refillable water stations and
1,900 reusable water bottles given to students. In 2019, Southeastern’s Sustainability
Center launched the campaign “I Choose to Reuse,” giving away water bottles with bookmarks
on “how to green your day.” The campaign encourages students to reuse the refillable
water station across campus and continues through Keep Louisiana Beautiful’s Healthy
Communities Grant.
As the recipient of this grant, Southeastern’s sustainability team is excited
to further its sustainable impact within its region.
“These fountains will help promote sustainability and sustainable action from
students on campus, as well as visitors,” said Southeastern Sustainability Manager
Alejandro Martinez. “This method positively impacts the recycling program and reduces
unsightly litter by reducing labor needs and beautifying our campus.”
Martinez is excited for Southeastern to be the recipient of this grant.
“Southeastern has already reduced over 300,000 bottles from going to the landfill,
and we know it is just the beginning,” he said. “Besides, this grant will help us
to provide reusable water bottles to our students, faculty, and staff. These filling
stations have already made a huge impact on plastic bottle reduction and a great impression
with everyone using refillable bottles.”
Martinez said Southeastern is committed to conserving resources and reducing
the impact they have on the environment and making the campus greener by encouraging
recycling on campus and using alternative fuel and energy sources such as geothermal
and solar.
Keep Louisiana Beautiful, Inc. is the state’s anti-litter and community improvement
organization focused on education, enforcement, awareness and cleanups. Affiliated
with Keep America Beautiful, the Keep Louisiana Beautiful mission is to promote personal,
corporate and community responsibility for a clean and beautiful Louisiana. With a
network of 40 affiliates in communities throughout the state, over 172,609 volunteers
work toward a clean and beautiful Louisiana.
