Thrivent Financial grants for Earth Keeper students

The 2007 Pharmaceutical Clean Sweep across northern Michigan is the third hazardous waste collection by the Earth keeper Initiative.

Over 365 tons of hazardous waste has been collected by the Earth Keepers.

Plus a student arm was recently created at Northern Michigan University that has many of its own projects and plans to start chapters at 3 other northern Michigan universities.

None of this would be possible without donors and grants.

In part two of our series, EPA funding was detailed.

The other major donor - Thrivent Financial for Lutherans - is a Wisconsin-based ecumenical not-for-profit that gives grants to all faiths and believes in supporting youth

In part three, Earth Keeper volunteer media advisor Greg Peterson reports on what Thrivent Financial has done for the Earth Keeper Initiative and the Northern Michigan University EarthKeeper Student team.

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At all Earth Keeper functions these green donation buckets are set up to get much appreciated grassroots support from the public- like this October 2006 benefit concert in Marquette by Greg LaCombe of Munising and his band Loose Ends.

But the primary funding for the Earth Keepers comes from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and Thrivent Financial for Lutherans - a Wisconsin based non-profit.

In the past several years, Thrivent has provided grants totaling $90,000

The money is used to fund the annual Earth Keeper hazardous waste clean sweeps and to found the Northern Michigan University Earth Keeper (NMU EK) Student Team that was announced during a April 2006 press conference.

The clean sweeps sponsored by nine U.P. faith communities with 130,000 members (60 percent of U.P. residents), the Superior Watershed Partnership, the Cedar Tree Institute, and the Keweenaw Bay Indian Community.

The project involves the congregations of over 140 churches and temples representing nine faith communities (Catholic, Episcopal, Lutheran, Presbyterian, United Methodist Church, Unitarian Universalist, Baha'i, Jewish, and Zen Buddhist).

Thrivent northern Michigan representative Dave Huckstep says the company is please to help the environment and students.

Rev. Jon Magnuson, Earth Keeper Initiative Founder

Ashley Ormson, Northern Michigan University EarthKeeper Student Team coordinator

Thrivent money gets big things done across a 400 mile area of Michigan's Upper Peninsula.

Over 365 tons of hazardous waste has been collected in three years - all recycled or properly disposed.
This includes over one ton of pharmaceuticals on Earth Day 2007 to protect drinking water and the Great lakes.

In 2006, about 10,000 people dropped off over 320 tons of old computers and cell phones that were recycled.

In 2005, about 45 tons of household poisons, car batteries and mercury was turn in and properly disposed.

The NMU EarthKeeper Student Team has several endeavors including the Adopt-A-Watershed project - the cleaning, studying and monitoring rivers that feed several of the Great Lakes.

In addition to participating the hazardous waste collections, the students teach conservation and other environment lessons to adults and children.

Thrivent offers many other services.

Thrivent Financial for Lutherans - helping the environment and university students across northern Michigan.

I'm Greg Peterson and you are watching Earth keeper TV

For more information contact the Superior Watershed Partnership at 906-228-6095 and Greg at 906-475-5068, or email: earthkeeper@charter.net

Earth Keeper TV:
http://earthkeepers.blip.tv/

Earth Keeper related website addresses are:

The Superior Watershed Partnership
http://www.superiorwatersheds.org

The Cedar Tree Institute:
http://www.cedartreeinstitute.com/

The Lake Superior Interfaith Communication Network:
http://www.lakesuperiorinterfaith.com/

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