Earth Day Network Launches First Social Network to Help Educators Teach Environmental Literacy in K-12 Schools

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE June 1, 2011  

Earth Day Network Launches First Social Network to Help Educators Teach Environmental Literacy in K-12 Schools

Interactive Educators’ Network is Free Nationwide

  ( Washington , DC – June 1st) — Earth Day Network today launched the first interactive social network for K-12 educators and students, the Educators’ Network (earthday.org/campaigns/education). Based on surveys of educators nationwide conducted by Earth Day Network, this one-of-a-kind online network fills the rapidly growing need for high quality educational tools that support environmental literacy and share “green” school resources. This innovative learning platform will empower teachers and students with the knowledge and skills necessary to make their communities healthier and more sustainable. The Educators’ Network was created thanks to a $250,000 grant from Wells Fargo & Company. Today’s students are tomorrow’s leaders, citizens and workforce, and our Educator’s Network is designed to help students understand the significance of their lives both in relation to protecting the environment and to leading our world in the transformation to a green and equitable economy” said Kathleen Rogers, President of Earth Day Network. “Earth Day Network is proud to support schools nationwide that are embracing green technology, building schools that are energy efficient, and helping the next generation understand complex environmental challenges.” “We’re proud to support Earth Day Network in using its incredible reach and connections to advance environmental awareness in today’s youth,” said Mary Wenzel, director of Environmental Affairs, Wells Fargo.  “The Educators’ Network is especially useful given the financial constraints many schools are facing. We are happy to support an initiative that provides resources for our country’s educators.” The Educators’ Network is the first interactive online platform that allows teachers and other stakeholders to network and openly share ideas for integrating sustainability into their schools and communities. EDN’s Educators’ Network will enable educators to share a library of materials collected from teachers nationwide, including lesson plans, teaching materials, grants, and blogs. Network members can also “Ask the Expert” for advice, engage in dialogue with EDN staff and key partners, and find grant opportunities targeted to educators. Additionally, the Educators’ Network will provide resources and tools to support schools in winning the Green Ribbon Schools Award recently announced by the U.S. Department of Education. The Green Ribbon Schools program will reward schools who demonstrate significant progress towards increasing their sustainability literacy, lowering their school’s environmental footprint and improving the overall health of students and staff. About Earth Day Network Earth Day Network’s mission is to broaden, diversify and mobilize the environmental movement, driving action year-round. Earth Day Network does this through advocacy, education, public policy, and consumer campaigns. For example, EDN’s Green Schools program provides tools to assist K-12 schools with finding cost-effective ways to enhance student learning and health, reduce operational costs and environmental impacts, and increase a community’s overall quality and competitiveness. The Educators’ Network is part of Earth Day Network’s Green Schools program, which is committed to “greening America ’s schools within a generation.”  At the vanguard of the national education and environmental movements, green schools combine traditional education approaches with 21st century innovations in building science, renewable energy and green economy support. archiveedn.wpengine.com. About Wells Fargo Wells Fargo & Company (NYSE: WFC) is a nationwide, diversified, community-based financial services company with $1.2 trillion in assets. Founded in 1852 and headquartered in San Francisco, Wells Fargo provides banking, insurance, investments, mortgage, and consumer and commercial finance through more than 9,000 stores, 12,000 ATMs, the Internet (wellsfargo.com and wachovia.com), and other distribution channels across North America and internationally. We want to help all of our customers succeed financially and create long-term economic growth and quality of life for everyone in our communities. In 2010, the Company invested a record $219 million in grants in 19,000 nonprofits, and team members contributed more than 1.3 million volunteer hours around the country.  For more information, please visit: www.wellsfargo.com/about/csr. To view and comment on Wells Fargo’s environmental initiatives visit: blog.wellsfargo.com/environment. Contact:  Sean Miller , Earth Day Network 202 518-0044, Ext. 15 or [email protected]