Aug 7 2008
The Norris family of New England learned their newborn daughter had a cyst on her lung in utero and that she would likely face asthma or other respiratory complications. Already concerned with their immediate environment and health of themselves and their three-year-old daughter, they sought to learn how to create the healthiest green environment for their family and new baby, and found Wee Generation along the way.
Wee Generation is a collaboration of environmental visionaries, including Seventh Generation and Healthy Child Healthy World, dedicated to raising awareness about children’s environmental health. By joining Wee Generation, Cynthia Norris entered to win a green makeover of her baby’s nursery while taking advantage of the educational info Wee Generation provided. It turns out that she won.
“We were absolutely astounded and thrilled to be honored with this gift,” said Cynthia Norris. “My husband Keith and I learned of McKenna’s cyst while I was pregnant. As a result, we’ve been trying to create a green home and nursery on our own and find this gift to be incredibly lucky and timely.”
Cynthia and Keith Norris won a $5,000 “greenovation” of their nursery and also received the opportunity to “pay-it-forward” to a local children’s organization. The Norris’ chose Massachusetts-based Horizons for Homeless Children, a non-profit organization dedicated to improving the lives of homeless children and their families. Through the provision of early care and education programs to young homeless children and support services to their parents, HHC educates on the importance of children’s environmental health at both the family and community level.
“Horizons for Homeless Children is dedicated to providing safe and attentive care and education to our community’s young children who are without homes,” said Meryl Sheriden, Chief Development Officer. “The green makeover is such a gift, not just to the children, but to the community as a whole. HHC is excited to set an example for quality childcare by implementing these easy green modifications in existing and future spaces.”
Both greenovations include extensive consultations with K.L. Hassen of Organic Home LLC and also incorporate helpful information by industry experts Healthy Child Healthy World and Seventh Generation. Healthy Child Healthy World recommends five easy steps for creating a healthy home for family. Find these steps and more at: http://healthychild.org/5steps/. Wee Generation and Seventh Generation expand on easy green nursery tips for any family at: www.weegeneration.org/green-nursery-tips.