Press the President Gives $500 to ‘Go Green’ Photo Contest Winner’s Favorite Charity

Contest Encouraged Americans to Exhibit Their Commitment to the Environment

WASHINGTON, June 3, 2014 /PRNewswire/ — Press the President, an online collaborative blog, has donated $500 to Trustees of the Reservation on behalf of Krista Jakes, the winner of the "Go Green" Photo Contest. Press the President challenged Americans to have consideration for the environment by "going green." The website's editors held an online photo contest to submit photos of how they and their families are improving the environment and building a more sustainable future.

Photo – http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20140603/93807

For the winning photo, Jakes submitted a picture of her children celebrating Arbor Day. She took the photo at Coolidge Point, a property managed by Trustees of the Reservation, an organization that cares for more than 100 natural and cultural landscapes – nearly 25,000 acres – all around Massachusetts. For Krista's family, it was important to give back to this charity as she feels the Trustees do wonderful work preserving beautiful areas in Massachusetts for all to enjoy.

"As a family, we've been very conscious of teaching the children to respect the world around them, to use things wisely, and to enjoy their surroundings," says Krista Jakes. "Our move to the suburbs was in part to enable our children to have more outdoor space for adventures and exploration."

Just because April is over doesn't mean you have lost your chance to help the environment! Krista and Press the President offer some valuable tips on how to get your family to "Go Green":

• Start a Community Composting Program: Jakes lives in a community that takes their environmental responsibility very seriously. The school systems have rigorous green programs and the town has a weekly single-stream recycling pick.Says Krista, "The town of Manchester just started a curbside composting program here in town. It was spearheaded by a team of local residents, marketed by a Boy Scout, and funded by grant money. So far – it's amazing. All of our organic waste is picked up weekly to go to composting. The town is going to save money on trash disposal, the waste is being composted, and residents even have access to the compost when it's ready for home gardening, etc."
• Teach Them How Recycling and Conserving Energy Can Make a Difference: Says Krista, "My children (6, 5 and 3) don't know of a world without recycling. To them – everything gets recycled. They are the first ones to grab the re-usable grocery bags to go shopping. They turn off the lights in our house to 'save the polar bears.' This is their world."
• Encourage Your Town to Have Awareness Programs and Events: In Krista's hometown, the local community center sponsors a yearly "Town Clean Up Day" where everyone comes out to help clean up the common spaces including town commons, roads, parks and beaches. Press the President recommends starting a program like this in your town if it doesn't already exist!
• Bring Nature to Them: Says Krista, "My children created their own 'nature clubs' in our backyard to study wildlife." Live in the city? Don't worry – Press the President has the answer for you.  Just because you live in the city doesn't mean you can't add some green to your everyday life. First Lady Michelle Obama brought urban gardening to the White House, and so have many city residents who have started community gardens to create a more sustainable lifestyle. Also consider teaching children about the importance of learning where your food comes from.
• Writing Online – American businesses throw away 21 million tons of paper every year, so what better way to celebrate the environment than by writing online? Press the President allows you to engage in debates and express your opinion in an open political forum. And the best part is, not a single sheet of paper goes to waste on our articles!

About Press the President:
Press the President is a worldwide forum for unfiltered debate about U.S. issues that affect the globe. The site's founders have created a space where writers can express their opinions freely. Americans are often criticized as not having enough of a political voice. Press the President provides a platform for people who want to make their voices heard from the White House to Main Street. Online visitors can share their views at www.pressthepresident.com or visit our Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/ptp.us to join in our weekly debates.