Community Corner
HEN Seeks to Give Grants to Locals With Great Eco-Project Ideas
If you have a great idea for a local, environmentally-conscious community project, Herndon Environmental Network wants to hear about it.
Got an idea for a project that would benefit the local environment and community - but just don't have the funds to pay for it?
The Herndon Environmental Network (HEN) wants to help.
Carlin Anderson, founder of HEN, was recently the recipient of a $2,500 grant for being one of the runners-up for a Cox Conserves Heroes award - one of only three out of the entire state of Virginia.
Now, she wants to share her prize money with the community.
HEN is currently accepting applications for local environmental projects that benefit the environment and local community, to receive funding grants of between $100 and $1,000.
"We felt like we could have a greater impact on the community by sharing [the grant money] with the community, and getting everyone's ideas, rather than just taking on a project by ourselves," said Anderson.
To apply for one of the grants, residents need only fill out an easy application on HEN's website.
Criteria includes:
- Grant applicants should identify a specific local project for which the funds will be used.
- Projects may encompass any topic benefiting the environment and the Herndon-area community.
- A project leader or leaders must be identified and projects should be able to be completed within a year of receiving the funding.
- At least one project leader should work or reside within the 20170 or 20171 zip code.
Anderson said already people in the community are sending in ideas - everyone from schools and churches wanting to start gardens, to Boy and Girl Scout troops for their community projects, to even Town of Herndon employees.
"It sounds like it's going to be a good variety; lots of people from all different kinds of programs, so we're very excited to see what kind of applications we get," Anderson said.
Grant applications are due by Nov. 30 and are available on HEN's website here.
Those who would prefer to print the application and mail it in rather than completing it online can use the PDF version.
In other HEN news, the group was also recently the recipient of a 2013 Fairfax County Environmental Excellence Award, in the "organization" category. The award is given each year to county residents, organizations, businesses and county employees "who dedicate time and energy to benefit the environment and support county environmental initiatives."
This Sunday, Anderson and other HEN members will be out at NatureFest with a booth teaching people the benefits and basics of composting, along with a worm expert.
What kinds of community eco-projects do you think it would be nice for the grants to help fund? Tell us your ideas in the comments below.
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