ARLINGTON, Va. – The Student Conservation Association (SCA) today announced that Comic Relief US awarded the organization a two-year grant of $315,000 from its Red Nose Day campaign to help continue expanding green conservation jobs and environmental education for youth in Atlanta and Houston.
The Red Nose Day Campaign is dedicated to raising life-changing funds to help end the cycle of intergenerational poverty and ensure children are safe, healthy, educated and empowered across the U.S. and around the world.
“We are incredibly grateful to Comic Relief for their generous support. This vital funding will allow us to expand our Urban Green programming while building equitable access to nature, providing green job opportunities to young people and fostering lifelong environmental stewardship,” said SCA President and CEO Lidia Soto-Harmon. “Thanks to Comic Relief US, we can continue to make an impact in the lives of our program participants and the communities we serve.”
The SCA’s Urban Green Program provides green jobs for historically marginalized youth and young adults while building equitable access to nature and supporting healthy communities. With this generous support, the SCA will facilitate its Black Women’s Conservation Crew for young adults in Atlanta for a second year this summer. The crew is a safe space for women of color to learn, grow, gain new technical skills and explore careers in environmental conservation.
Program participants will work on an array of service projects, including invasive species removal, habitat restoration, litter abatement and trail work at various locations throughout the Atlanta area. The funding will also support the SCA’s Atlanta Urban Treehouse program for a second year this summer. The Urban Treehouse program gives youth the opportunity to have fun experiences in nature, nurture their relationship with the environment and participate in hands-on conservation projects during in-school hours.
“On behalf of Comic Relief US, we are so proud to continue supporting the Student Conservation Association’s Urban Green program in Atlanta and Houston, which are two areas where decades of systemic marginalization and environmental injustice have negatively impacted the health of low-income and minority residents,” said Ayo Roach, SVP Grants, Comic Relief US. “The SCA’s work to increase awareness of the link between living conditions and health plays an integral role in mitigating the health impacts of climate change and creating safe and healthy places for children and young people to live and thrive. By engaging young participants in hands-on service to the land, the Urban Green program seamlessly aligns with Comic Relief US’ health focus on ensuring the environment in which people live, work and play, prevent disease and facilitate good physical and mental health through community-driven interventions.”
Additionally, in Houston, Red Nose Day funding will support the SCA’s Houston Urban Treehouse program for a second year this summer. Green Educators will support a variety of environmental health-focused projects, including environmental education sessions, trail building, trail maintenance, invasive species removal, and planting native grasses and trees near a local bayou.
About the Student Conservation Association
The Student Conservation Association (SCA) is the largest provider of hands-on environmental conservation programs for youth and young adults. Program participants protect and restore national parks, marine sanctuaries, cultural landmarks and community green spaces across the country. The SCA is devoted to building equitable access to nature, providing green job opportunities for young people and teaching members how to become environmental stewards. Founded in 1957, the SCA is committed to building the next generation of conservation leaders dedicated to the lifelong protection of the environment and the communities we serve. For more, visit www.thesca.org.
About Comic Relief US
Comic Relief US harnesses the power of entertainment to drive positive change and create a just world free from poverty. The nonprofit has raised over $380 million by mobilizing donors of all ages to engage with causes through powerful content-driven campaigns and new digital platforms. Since 2015, Red Nose Day, Comic Relief US’ signature campaign to end child poverty, has raised over $324 million and positively impacted over 31 million children in the US and around the world. Donations are invested in grantee partners and social impact programs that ensure children are safe, healthy, educated and empowered and that address the root causes of poverty in communities most impacted. Comic Relief US, also known as Comic Relief, Inc., is a registered U.S. 501(c)(3) public charity. For more information about Comic Relief US and its impact, visit comicrelief.org. Follow @ComicReliefUS on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook.
