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Yarmouth Port, MA – CARE (Creating A Responsible Environment) for the Cape & Islands 2023 Stewardship Awards were presented November 9, during the Take Care Cape Cod Summit – The Rising Tide of Plastic Pollution: Sustainable Business Solutions. The awards are presented annually to an organization/individual and a Youth/Youth Group that exhibit day-to-day practices that support CARE’s mission to preserve and protect the natural environment, culture and history of Cape Cod & the Islands. This year’s award was presented to Heritage Museums and Gardens for their overall commitment to sustainability. Their commitment is to achieving a carbon neutral future by 2040 and they are well on their way to this goal. Carbon neutrality, or net-zero emissions, means that they do not emit any greenhouse gasses that they cannot absorb back up out of the atmosphere. To do so entails protecting and conserving natural climate fighting tools such as trees and shrubs, reducing and eliminating greenhouse gas emissions and developing operational processes that preserve and protect the environment. Heritage Museums and Gardens has committed to be a model of sustainability, to reduce the use of fossil fuels and to reduce carbon dioxide emissions, and to provide public engagement in these issues through education. The nomination was made as a result of their public education. Heritage is also effectively educating our future through the Hundred Acre School located on their property. Using the natural environment as their classroom the school engages and inspires students with an emphasis on STEM studies. For more information on Heritage’s sustainability program visit their website The Youth Award was presented to two students from Sturgis Public Charter School West School who lead their Green Club. Ben Bass and Colby Hall are seniors. The club's adviser described them as some of the most dedicated and reliable members of the club. Ben and Colby’s goals for the 2023-2024 year are to continue and expand the recycling program, raise awareness on recycling, and establish a compost program for their school in order to reduce their overall waste. Their teacher stated “The care that these two students show for our local environment give me hope for the future!” Some of CARE’s previous recipients include Compost With Me, Cape Cod Beer, WHOI Sea Grant, the Cape Abilities “Green Team”, Plastic Free MV and several local high school students. “Recognizing those within our community who are truly making a difference is one of the highlights of our work”, Jill Talladay, CARE’s founder and executive director explained. “Through contributions of “time, talent and treasure” and mindful actions, this beautiful place will be preserved for future generations”. The summit held at The 204 Cultural Arts Municipal Building in Harwich featured a panel discussion that highlighted businesses that have taken action to reduce single use plastic serviceware and a second panel that offered resources and solutions that can assist organizations wishing to make positive changes to reduce their footprint. The summit was the first event focused on a three year NOAA grant awarded to CARE and WHOI Sea Grant to create a shift to sustainable food serviceware. Anyone who would like to learn more or get involved may contact CARE at hello@careforthecapeandislands.org. ABOUT CARE FOR THE CAPE & ISLANDS CARE for the Cape & Island mission is to inspire stewardship to preserve and protect the natural environment, cultural and historical treasures of Cape Cod, Martha’s Vineyard, and Nantucket. Since 2012, CARE has ? Activated 4,200+ volunteer hours (delivering $100k of value to the community) to clean up and improve community infrastructure. ? Funded 55+ projects, including water filling stations, cigarette butt collectors, historical trail development and other amenities that benefit all of us. ? Spearheaded the Take Care Cape Cod campaign and bi-annual summits that have brought together more than 70 like-minded organizations to educate, inspire and boost our collective impact and to address challenges of solid waste and plastic pollution that impacts our land and marine environments. Learn more at https://careforthecapeandislands.org/ and https://takecarecapecod.org/ ABOUT TAKE CARE CAPE COD Take Care is a messaging campaign that originated in Lake Tahoe and was introduced in 2019 to Cape Cod by CARE for the Cape & Islands. The messages are simple, eye-catching and humorous to encourage stewardship. For example, messages encourage proper disposal of dog waste, cigarette butts and general litter. Earlier this summer it introduced the three ARRR’s campaign using a friendly pirate that asks people to Reduce Reuse Recycle in order to reduce waste.