Begins with Support of 15 New Libraries in Chihuahua, Mexico

[Pasadena, CA – October 08, 2012] Asset Network for Education Worldwide, Inc. (ANEW) and the United States Green Building Council Los Angeles Chapter (USGBC-LA) have announced a partnership to team up on projects that will have a positive environmental and social impact on communities locally and beyond.

The announcement came Friday, September 28^th at the USGBC-LA’s 8^th Annual Green Gala event.  ANEW and USGBC-LA have committed to work with the World is Just a Book Away(WIJABA) organization to build 15 libraries in the state of Chihuahua, Mexico.

Rose Tourje, founder of ANEW said: “Anytime we are called upon to serve those in need, we are living out our daily practice of “doing”. It is our privilege to help children and their families live better lives, and being a part of the WIJABA and USGBC-LA partnership is truly an honor, it’s humbling”.

ANEW will contribute to the project by giving decommissioned commercial furniture and finishings a second life in the 15, new libraries being built to change the lives of children in need through literacy. James Owen, WIJABA founder and professor at USC Marshall School of Business, and Alison Suffet Diaz, Environmental Charter Schools, will work closely with ANEW and USGBC-LA to see their vision fulfilled.

“As we represent L.A.’s sustainable and green built environment, USGBC-LA is strongly committed to representing a diverse population. To that end, supporting a project to build green and sustainable libraries represents an incredible opportunity to engage our 1,600 members and over 32,000 volunteers, friends and affiliates which include architects, engineers, builders, industry manufacturers, designers, landscape artists and others”, says Jorge Partida, Executive Director.

Local architects in Mexico will be selected to build all 15 libraries to Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) standards.  While companies donate to ANEW on a frequent basis, one recent and generous donation came by way of Jeffrey Lemansky, Chief Upcycler, Upcyclity, who was offered 900 gallons of paint for ‘upcycling’ but decided a different use. Lemansky called ANEW and as a result of his thoughtful act, the good stewards at Quaker Chemical Corp are pleased to donate more than 15, 50-gallon drums of high quality commercial grade, low VOC paint to ANEW. In turn, ANEW has committed it all to the USGBC – LA Chapter for the important WIJABA project and others locally, as they see fit.

California’s largest commercial carpet manufacturer and ANEW sustaining sponsor, Bentley Prince Street, has also come on board to provide carpet tile for all 15 libraries. Bentley Prince Street carpet is manufactured responsibly in a LEED for Existing Buildings mill in Los Angeles.

The mission of ANEW is two-fold: to match public charities with surplus office furniture, architectural materials and building assets to strengthen their local community. This raises wellbeing and it also helps the environment by diverting landfill. As a community partner of USGBC-LA, ANEW looks forward to more projects, like the WIJABA program, which will illustrate its mission in action. The USGBC-LA is equally committed to expanding its role in the community and is strategically partnering with organizations like ANEW to address social, economic and environmental concerns.

Follow @ANEWFound on Twitter and like ANEWfound on Facebook to join the Social Sustainability movement and please also take a moment to watch and share the award-winning short documentary “ANEW, doing what’s right with what’s left.”  Visit www.anewfound.org for more information and sponsorship opportunities.

About ANEW

ANEW (Asset Network for Education Worldwide, Inc.) is a public, non-profit organization dedicated to collecting, organizing and repurposing surplus furniture, fixtures and equipment (FF&E) for donation to the underserved.  For more information, visit www.anewfound.org

About USGBC

The United States Green Building Council (USGBC) is a National Non-Profit organization with headquarters in Washington DC. USGBC is the premier resource informing green building and sustainability not only across the USA, but, with affiliate chapters in more than 50 countries, also covers the world. As the innovators of the LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) building and accreditation process, USGBC has literally set the industry standard for green building. The mission of USGBC is to impact the building environment and make sustainability accessible to all within one generation.

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