On March 26, 2008 Toyota and the National Audubon Society launched a joint venture: TogetherGreen. Toyota donated 20 million dollars and employee time to the venture and National Audubon Society committed its national resources and 103 years of environmental experience. During the next five years this joint venture will implement a series of national conservation initiatives to build future leaders in conservation, increase volunteer action, and achieve lasting conservation results.
TogetherGreen includes three program components:
Innovation Grants -- to fund dozens of on-the-ground projects each year that employ creative approaches and engage diverse communities to help achieve measurable land, water and/or energy conservation results. Grant requirements will broaden project participation and promote innovation by uniting Audubon's national network with environmental and community partners.
Conservation Fellowships -- to train and foster up to 200 promising environmental leaders who can serve as role models, expert guides and organizers for engaging new and diverse audiences in effective conservation action.
Volunteer Days -- to be offered at Audubon Centers and other locations nationwide, providing hands-on opportunities to address environmental problems and take part in restoration activities.
Below are the list of events scheduled under the South Florida Audubon Society Year 2 TogetherGreen Grant followed by descriptions of Year 1 and Year 2 goals and expected outcomes.
2009 - 2010 TogetherGreen Volunteer Days Events
July 14 to October 31, 2009
Sea Turtle Disorientation Volunteering at beaches in Broward County, Florida
October 8, 2009
Tree Planting and Water Conservation Education at
Hugh Taylor Birch State Park, Fort Lauderdale, FL
Twenty girls and ten staff including the science instructor from PACE School for Girls, Broward County, will participate in the tree planting along with TogetherGreen partners Kids Ecology Corps and South Florida Audubon Society. Educational activities to generate interest and excitement for rain capture in rain barrels for water conservation will include Rain Barrel Painting as well as installation of rain barrels at PACE School for Girls in Broward.
Saturday, October 24, 2009 (10 am to 12 pm)
International Climate Crisis Day (www.350.org) Rally at
Museum of Discovery and Science.
South Florida Audubon Society is one of the lead nongovernmental organizations demonstrating support of the 350 effort for standards for climate change. The rally will include brief comments by elected officials including congressional representatives and scientist experts on climate change. Outreach and educational family oriented material will be available for the attendees to increase their awareness of the
global Copenhagen, Denmark Conference in December 2009.
November 14-15, 2009 South Florida Living Green Fair
at John U Lloyd State Park, Dania Beach, Florida
This event features exhibits, tree planting, beach clean up games, electric/hybrid/CNG vehicles, water maze, cooking demonstrations, organic gardening, food/wine sampling, and more. This event is geared to families and the expected crowd is 10,000. Hundreds of volunteers will be involved. Educational opportunties related to water conservation, climate change, solar energy, Everglades Restoration and much more will be involved. Visit www.livinggreenfair.com for more information.
February 12, 2010 24-7-365green Environmental Conference
Broward College South, Pembroke Pines, FL
South Florida Economic Foundation and South Florida Audubon Society have partnered for the next TogetherGreen event. Click here for details. South Florida Economic Foundation brings businesses, governments, and the general public together around issues affecting the economic health of our region, the seventh largest Metropolitan Statistical Area in the United States. South Florida Audubon Society brings together individuals and groups advocating for a healthy habitat for birds and other wildlife which in turn enhances the environment for residents.

The 24-7-365green Environmental Conference will focus on improving our natural environment using sustainable strategies while exploring business opportunities for the new green economy. All sessions are designed to enhance South Florida's quality of life. The conference is for business people, educators, nonprofit executives and public officials from the South East Florida Region. Participants will learn ways to reduce our carbon footprint, manage waste, improve air quality, manage water quality, and increase energy conservation.
May 2010 Earth Day
South Florida Audubon Society is involved in the planning and volunteer support for the Earth Day activities in South Florida. TogetherGreen partner, Trash2Treasure, is hosting a week long event featuring Trash2Art at Artserv, Fort Lauderdale. Children and youth will use recycled materials to create usable goods and art. Hundreds of volunteers will help in educating participants in the importance of and how to recycle. Further details to follow.

At Gumbo Limbo Nature Center, prior to the removal of the invasive plants, there will be a workshop to educate the volunteers on making rain barrels and other methods of water conservation.
"Give Thanks for the Environment Day" educates over 500 children and adults through exhibits, distribution of educational material, presentations, 'edutainment', films, music and interpretive walks/hikes on a variety of environmental art, US Corps of Army Engineers, Sea Turtle Nesting, environmentally-oriented music with themes such as global climate change, water conservation and Everglades Restoration and The Kids Ecology Corps will explain the importance of removing invasive plants and planting native plants and trees. A new partnership has been formed with the Broward PACE Center for Girls in Distress. The PACE Center will provide all the volunteers for one event engaging girls "at risk", most of whom come from under served communities. The additional new volunteers will be students from the Environmental programs of South Plantation High School and Sawgrass Middle School as well as science students from Pioneer Middle School. This will provide "hands-on" field experience related to conservation and habitat restoration. Additional business partners are being sought for sponsorship and volunteers.