Binghamton University has been recognized for its environmental efforts in the local community.
The University was selected as a finalist for the Newman’s Own Foundation Campus Community Service Challenge’s grant competition. The grant will provide the selected non-profit finalists, both nominated by and paired with student groups from each of the America East’s nine member universities, with a chance to win anywhere from $5,000 to $25,000.
The criteria for finalists are based on the student group’s involvement with the local partner, the impact of partnership, the students themselves, mission of the programs and how a grant from Newman’s Own Foundation would be of benefit.
The student organization, SUNY Volunteers Improving Neighborhood Environments (VINES), made up of more than 200 volunteers, and its local non-profit partner of the same name, VINES, are in the running for the top prize, a grant of $25,000 for community garden projects around Binghamton.
The grant is awarded to schools associated with the America East Conference’s nine member universities — Binghamton University, University at Albany, Boston University, University of Hartford, University of Maine, University of Maryland, University of New Hampshire, Stonybrook University and University of Vermont.
The Newman’s Own Foundation, who teamed up with the America East for the third year in a row, will present the total donation of $100,000 at the 2012 AEC Basketball Championship on March 4. One grant will be awarded to each of the nine AEC campuses, according to a press release.
As part of the grant competition, VINES will receive $10,000 because its campus counterpart was selected as a finalist.
“The $10,000 NOF funding will allow us to more deeply development the relationship with our student counterpart,” according to Lauren Tonti, VINES’ Americorps intern and urban farm co-manager. “This funding will allow us to continue developing sustainable urban gardens in the community and students will have a larger role in that process.”
Christie Zwahlen, community engagement coordinator in the Center for Civic Engagement, said the CCE had various student groups write and submit grant proposals, and then selected the top two entries to send to Newman’s Own.
“The Newman’s Own Foundation reviews the entries from each school in the America East Conference and then decides which schools’ entries should earn finalist status,” Zwahlen wrote in an email.
SUNY VINES President Sarah Lister said the student group has worked to build and maintain community gardens and parks, hold workshops on planting and composting, promote environmental health and coordinate litter cleanups in the local area.
Lister, a senior double-majoring in biology and environmental studies, said that to win the top prize, SUNY VINES would have to make it clear that its project will have a positive impact on the community for years after its initiation.
“I think SUNY VINES fits the bill perfectly,” Lister said. “We want students and community members to be able to free themselves from expensive grocery stores and low-quality food options and we want people to realize that they have other options.”
Lister said she believes in the SUNY VINES mission and always welcomes more volunteers.
“What VINES does for the community is astounding,” Lister said. “The old adage about teaching a man to fish? They may as well have invented it. They are not only teaching gardening though — they are bringing the community together in a big way.”
VINES, the local non-profit organization that teamed up with the student group, was founded in 2007.
The organization leads projects like urban farming and educational gardening workshops that are free to the public. These mostly take place at the Broome County Library, and specific dates and times can be found at www.vinesgardens.org.
“We strive to develop and beautify urban sites and empower community members of all ages and abilities,” the VINES mission statements said.
Tonti said that SUNY VINES was formed in 2010 by students who decided to bring their own involvement with VINES to attract student participation.
“They formed SUNY VINES with the intention to attract more students to the community organization by helping with garden development, outreach to learn more about gardening,” Tonti said. “Students help out at most work-day events, fundraisers and gardening workshops.”
SUNY VINES meets at 7:30 p.m. Thursdays in Science I room 167.