Samsung Announces National Winner of the Climate Superstars Challenge

ATLANTA, June 9, 2015 /3BL Media/ - After nearly two months of completing a variety of tasks centered around sustainability, Boys & Girls Clubs of Northwest New Jersey’s Pequannock Unit was selected as the winner of the Samsung Climate Superstars Challenge, the first contest of its kind designed to motivate young people to take actions that help protect the environment and raise awareness about climate change. The Challenge included 219 participating Boys & Girls Clubs nationwide.

Boys & Girls Clubs of America (BGCA) partnered with Samsung to build education on energy and environmental issues within their Clubs and help bring these lessons to life through the Climate Superstars Challenge, empowering Club members to do their part to help prevent climate change. 

Participating Clubs tackled weekly challenges that centered on core themes such as improving energy-efficiency, conserving water and reducing waste. Over the course of seven weeks, Samsung presented BGCA Torch Club members, ages 11-13 with various tasks, such as identifying ENERGY STAR appliances, planting trees, visiting a local power plant, spreading the word among peers about water-saving tips and brainstorming creative ways to reuse household items.

Each participating Club put their own unique spin on the tasks presented throughout the Challenge. For example, Boys & Girls Clubs of Fresno came up with a creative way to design bags out of old t-shirts; the members even recycled the sleeves of the t-shirts to create matching coin pouches. Boys & Girls Clubs of Skagit County members collected used electronic devices to donate to Goodwill. And Malon D. Mimms Boys & Girls Club of Metro Atlanta recycled CDs to safely reflect sun into animals’ eyes in order to keep them from eating the vegetables in the Club’s garden.

Based on the number of tasks completed, points and prizes were rewarded to participating Clubs. At the end of the contest period, Boys & Girls Clubs of Northwest New Jersey Pequannock Unit successfully completed each task and surpassed contest requirements. Throughout the Challenge, the Pequannock Club hosted an Earth Hour party to gather members together for the lights-off energy awareness initiative, held an e-waste drive for the community, visited their local power plant which uses waterfalls to generate electricity, upcycled a wooden bedframe to create a flowerbed and conducted a riverbed cleanup – an initiative that was not required in the contest criteria.

As the Samsung Climate Superstar, The Pequannock Club received a technology makeover, which included Samsung ENERGY STAR®-qualified tablets, computers and TVs, at a value of more than $20,000.* Participants received prizes throughout the three stages of the Challenge, totaling more than $45,000* of technology. In addition, a celebration event was held at the Club today to reward members for their outstanding efforts to increase awareness about climate change within their community. During the event, the technology makeover was revealed to Club members and they had the opportunity to experience the new energy-efficient equipment for the first time. Representatives from Samsung, the Environmental Protection Agency and the BGCA joined local Club executives in congratulating the winning participants.  

“Nothing makes us happier than seeing children take action to help protect the environment because of the lessons they learned through the Samsung Climate Superstars Challenge,” said Katherine Davies, manager of corporate sustainability at Samsung Electronics America. “We are very impressed by the great efforts from each participating Club, and we are delighted to recognize Boys & Girls Clubs of Northwest New Jersey Pequannock Unit for their exemplary efforts and look towards them as future stewards of global sustainability.”  

“We’re incredibly proud of all our young Club members who helped us to win the Samsung Climate Superstars Challenge,” Joe Lynch, chief professional officer with Boys & Girls Clubs of Pequannock. “Global warming is a serious issue and we’re grateful to Samsung for helping show our youth how they can incorporate simple sustainability practices here at our Club, at home and throughout their lives.”

* Estimated Retail Value

About Samsung Electronics America, Inc.
Headquartered in Ridgefield Park, NJ, Samsung Electronics America, Inc. (SEA), is a recognized innovation leader in consumer electronics design and technology.  A wholly owned subsidiary of Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd., SEA delivers a broad range of digital consumer electronics, mobile products and wearables, wireless infrastructure, IT and home appliance products. Samsung is the market leader for HDTVs in the U.S and one of America’s fastest growing home appliance brand. To discover more, please visit www.samsung.com.

About Boys & Girls Clubs of America
For more than 100 years, Boys & Girls Clubs of America (GreatFutures.org) has enabled young people most in need to achieve great futures as productive, caring, responsible citizens. Today, more than 4,100 Clubs serve nearly 4 million young people annually through Club membership and community outreach. Clubs are located in cities, towns, public housing and on Native lands throughout the country, and serve military families in BGCA-affiliated Youth Centers on U.S. military installations worldwide. They provide a safe place, caring adult mentors, fun, friendship, and high-impact youth development programs on a daily basis during critical non-school hours. Priority programs emphasize academic success, good character and citizenship, and healthy lifestyles. In a Harris Survey of alumni, 57 percent said the Club saved their lives. National headquarters are located in Atlanta. Learn more at http://www.bgca.org/facebook and http://bgca.org/twitter.