The nation’s largest green consumer living event returns to the San Francisco Concourse
SAN FRANCISCO - March 7, 2011 The largest sustainability event in the world celebrates 10 years, one million attendees at the San Francisco Concourse Exhibition Center April 9 – 10. This one-of-a-kind weekend experience offers opportunities for community members to meet their favorite authors, actors and community leaders; shop more than 300 eco-friendly exhibitors; participate in educational workshops; enjoy live music and local vegetarian cuisine; and sample organic chocolates, wine and beer.
Ten stages and pavilions feature more than 125 inspirational and educational speakers, including Amy Goodman, The Fabulous Beekman Boys, John Perkins, Dr. Sharif Abdullah, Zoe Weil, Favianna Rodriguez and Mark Hertsgaard, to name a few.
The Green Festival marketplace showcases more than 300 green and socially-responsible businesses and organizations. Attendees browse organic eco-fashion, green pet supplies, fair trade décor, nontoxic children’s products and much more.
Green Festival gives back GF Bucks to individuals who purchase tickets online or at the door. GF Bucks are the local Green Festival currency, and can be used the same-as-cash to shop in the Green Marketplace.
“Last fall, Green Festival stimulated the green economy by giving back $44,000 to local, regional and national sustainable businesses through the new “GF Bucks” admissions policy,” says Global Exchange and Green Festival Founder, Dr. Kevin Danaher.
Green Festival enables individuals to volunteer or donate to various local nonprofits in exchange for complimentary Green Festival admission through the “Pay it Forward, Get it Back” campaign. Engage with Green America, Global Exchange, San Francisco Food Bank, SF Education Fund, Green For All, San Francisco Green Film Festival, East Bay Depot for Creative Reuse and Bay Localize to receive free Green Festival tickets. Also, Green America and Global Exchange members always receive free admission to Green Festival.
The San Francisco Food Bank and KPIX CBS 5 host a food drive at Green Festival, in which community members bring nonperishable cans to donate for free admission. According to the Food Bank, 197,000 people struggle each day to feed themselves and their families in San Francisco.
“The generous donation of food collected at Green Festival will aid the SF Food Bank in delivering nutritious and delicious meals for over 35,000 families throughout San Francisco and Marin,” says Events and Food Drives Manager, Jessica Brittsan. “Every donation helps in the fight to end hunger in our community.”
A joint project of Green America and Global Exchange, two leading nonprofit organizations dedicated to environmental and social justice for more than 27 years, Green Festival inspires and promotes the connection between change and sustainable progress for people, communities and businesses. Green Festivals empowers people to live healthier lives—socially, economically and environmentally.
“Whether you go to shop, learn, try new organic foods or experience art and music, Green Festival has it all, with the goal to motivate every person to think, participate and make more planet-friendly, sustainable choices in their every day lives,” says Green America and Green Festival Founder, Denise Hamler.
Thank you to Corporate Innovators: Ford and Bon Ami. Receive complimentary tickets when you visit your San Francisco area Ford Dealer. Test drive one of Ford’s new green hybrid and electric vehicles right at the Green Festival.
Thank you to Green Festival partners: Clif Bar, KPIX CBS 5 and KCBS Alice Radio 97.3.
Engage with Green Festivals online at www.GreenFestivals.org, www.Facebook.com/GreenFestival and www.Twitter.com/GreenFestival for the latest news about San Francisco Green Festival and additional Green Festivals in 2011.
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About Green America
Green America is a national nonprofit organization founded in 1982, providing the economic strategies, organizing power and practicing tools for businesses and individuals to address today’s social and environmental problems. Its Green Business Network is the largest national network of businesses screened for their social and environmental responsibility. www.greenamericatoday.org
About Global Exchange
Global Exchange is a membership-based international human rights organization dedicated to promoting social, economic and environmental justice around the world. Since its founding in 1988, Global Exchange has successfully increased public awareness of root causes of injustice while building international partnerships and mobilizing for change. www.globalexchange.org
About Seven-Star, Inc.
Seven-Star, Inc. is the nation’s premier green full-service event company focusing exclusively on green events. Since 1999, Seven-Star has provided turn-key green event services for environmentally Responsible and socially Respectful (eR/sR) festivals, trade and consumer expositions, conferences and concerts. From the greening of the 2007 International Live Earth events, to the 2008 Democratic National Convention events, to producing the nation’s largest consumer Green Festivals, Seven-Star has defined itself as the company for eR/sR event production. Seven-Star is the first event company to have won the EPA’s Gold Waste Wise Award for Excellence in recognition for their proprietary system of event waste diversion, which has consistently achieved greater than 92%.www.sevenstarevents.com
