SunChips and National Geographic have joined forces to create the Green Effect, an initiative to inspire individuals to spark a green movement in their communities. SunChips® brand and National Geographic believe in the power of the Green Effect. If each of us takes one small step to make our community greener, we can create big change for our planet. To get the movement started, they will be  awarding $20,000 grants to five people or groups—such as a Scout troop, green club, parents organization, or church group—with compelling ideas for green change.

YOU could be the one to make a difference in your community—for the planet! Submit a description of your Green Effect idea by June 8, 2009. Ten finalists will be announced July 7, 2009. Online viewers and a distinguished panel of judges will review these inspiring ideas. SunChips and National Geographic will award $20,000 each to five people or groups that have the best ideas for green change.  The five winners will also be profiled in National Geographic, and the winners will travel to Washington, D.C., to share their projects with environmental leaders.   On July 7, 2009, they will post ten finalists, chosen by a panel of judges against the judging criteria outlined in the Official Rules. Each of the ten finalists will receive a Flip video camera.   The ten finalists’ entries will be rejudged by online voters and a new panel of judges. Online voters will choose one winner, and the judges will pick the remaining four.

You need to register for National Geographic in order to submit an entry. This ensures that we have your contact information. You will also need to be registered in order to comment on an entry or vote for an entry.  Each person or organization may submit one idea.

Deadline: June 8, 2009

Important Links
1. Submit your idea

2. Official Rules

3. View and Vote for the ideas submitted so far

Get some ideas from some sample ideas posted below:

Local Composting in D.C.
Submitted by: Trisha M.
Washington, D.C.
If I won the grant money, I’d use it as seed capital to begin a composting program and start by diverting about 500 pounds of food waste from going to our landfills every day! These funds would run the program in Year 1 and I’d start working right away to line up funding to ensure it continues. Read the full entry.
Create a Community Garden
Submitted by: FarmerJoe
Jacksonville, Florida
With $20,000 I would reach out to my neighbors to create a community garden—right across our front lawns! I’d expect to get 15 families to participate. We could make quite a difference. Read the full entry

Kids Earth Appreciation
Submitted by: Amy_President
Junior League of Arbor Hills
Ann Arbor, Michigan
What: Our Green Effect idea is to give kids a tool kit to get up close and personal with the planet … to help the next generation know it, love it, and ultimately want to take care good care of it.  Read the full entry

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Author: Tracey de Morsella (323 Articles)

Tracey de Morsella started her career working as an editor for US Technology Magazine. She used that experience to launch Delaware Valley Network, a publication for professionals in the Greater Philadelphia area. Years later, she used the contacts and resources she acquired to work in executive search specializing in technical and diversity recruitment. She has conducted recruitment training seminars for Wachovia Bank, the Department of Interior and the US Postal Service. During this time, she also created a diversity portal called The Multicultural Advantage and published the Diversity Recruitment Advertising Toolkit, a directory of recruiting resources for human resources professionals. Her career and recruitment articles have appeared in numerous publications and web portals including Woman Engineer Magazine, Monster.com, About.com Job Search Channel, Workplace Diversity Magazine, Society for Human Resource Management web site, NSBE Engineering Magazine, HR.com, and Human Resource Consultants Association Newsletter. Her work with technology professionals drew her to pursuing training and work in web development, which led to a stint at Merrill Lynch as an Intranet Manager. In March, she decided to combine her technical and career management expertise with her passion for the environment, and with her husband, launched The Green Economy Post, a blog providing green career information and covering the impact of the environment, sustainable building, cleantech and renewable energy on the US economy. Her sustainability articles have appeared on Industrial Maintenance & Plant Operation, Chem.Info,FastCompany and CleanTechies.