Funds will fight hunger and advance zero waste, connect Oregonians with nature and stimulate economic development PORTLAND, Ore. - Sept. 29, 2014 - Top leaders from Waste Management are teaming up with the company's national suppliers to donate $500,000 for community partnerships in areas where Waste Management provides recycling and environmental services. Funds raised will help fight hunger and advance zero waste across the state, connect Oregonians and visitors with nature in the Portland Metro area, and stimulate economic development in Yamhill County. "Waste Management is already partnering with local governments and businesses in Oregon to achieve aggressive sustainability goals," said Mary Evans, Waste Management's Pacific Northwest director of public sector services. "With these significant donations, we are investing to enrich Oregon communities in important and lasting ways." Funds raised by Waste Management and the company's vendor partners will support the following: Oregon Food Bank is the hub for a statewide network of 21 regional food banks and more than 950 hunger-relief agencies. Waste Management's $200,000 donation will help ensure emergency preparedness and advance zero waste across Oregon. It will fund an emergency generator for the large, central warehouse and a back-up fueling system to ensure that the food bank trucks are able to deliver food in the event of a power outage. This donation will also help achieve Waste Management's zero waste goal because food won't go to waste, even when the power fails. The Intertwine Alliance is a coalition of public agencies, businesses and nonprofits working together to celebrate, protect and improve the network of outdoor places and trails in the greater Portland Metro area. Waste Management's $150,000 donation will help launch a major public engagement/stewardship project that has united more than 100 partners from government, private industry and non-profits. It will fund an innovative Daycation Planner and Native Species App, a new mobile application to connect Oregonians with nature and cultivate knowledge about and stewardship of the outdoors. Part wildlife encyclopedia and part travel guide, the app is the first of its kind in the country. It will allow users to plan outdoor excursions while learning about local wildlife. Grow, Yamhill County - Yamhill County is home to vibrant communities that are prioritizing economic development by building on a diverse foundation of farming and viticulture, manufacturing,entrepreneurship, stewardship, and innovation. Waste Management's $150,000 donation funds an economic development grant for each of the 10 cities in Yamhill County. The company is awarding $15,000 to each of the 10 cities in Yamhill County as Green4Growth. Community Partnership Grants. Recipients include the cities of Amity, Carlton, Dayton, Dundee, Lafayette, Newberg, McMinnville, Sheridan, Willamina and Yamhill. Grants will be used to stimulate economic development through business, industry, education, recreation, culture, the arts, stewardship or innovation. About Waste Management Waste Management is the largest environmental solutions provider in North America, serving more than 20 million customers in the U.S. and Canada. As part of our strategy, we are committed to developing new waste solutions that can help communities and organizations achieve their green goals, including zero waste. For more information, visit us at: • wmnorthwest.com • riverbend.wm.com • wm.com Media Contact Jackie Lang 503-493-7848 jjlang@wm.com Print This Page