Will County contest to award refurbished iPad2s to non-profit groups - Sept. 26, 2014

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Sept. 26, 2014

Will County contest to award refurbished iPad2s to non-profit groups

JOLIET – Part of a non-profit organization that could use a pair of refurbished iPad2s?

Will County will award two non-profit groups who show off their “green” a set of the electronic tablets.

Applications are due Nov. 1, and winners will be announced on America Recycles Day, Nov. 15. They will be chosen by a scoring system that includes points for intended uses and for current green practices.

Applications are available on the homepage of the Land Use Department Resource Recovery & Energy Division website, www.willcountygreen.com. In addition to information about their staff sizes and missions, contestants are asked to fill out information about their green practices.

Channahon’s Debra Walters inspired the contest, said Marta Keane, Will County Recycling Specialist.

Walters received a refurbished tablet in January for having a picture taken of herself recycling Christmas lights. But the Easter Seals physical therapist didn’t consider keeping it for personal use. Her first thought was how the iPad could help her colleagues and their young clients. Her winning iPad doubled the number available to therapists.

Will County Executive Larry Walsh was happy to hear about – and inspired by -- Walters’ altruism. He asked Keane to come up with a way to get more refurbished tablets to the County’s non-profits.

The new contest specific to non-profit organizations is also envisioned to find examples of energy-efficient business practices throughout the County. Any non-profit that enters will be sharing their efforts; the County hopes to share those everyday practices with the community through their Will County Green electronic newsletter and social media outlets.

Keane said, “Each winner will receive two iPad devices.  The idea being that if an organization could truly use the devices to fulfill their mission, they will probably need more than one to make an impact.  We hope the prize makes a positive impact.

America Recycles Day is a reminder to recycle, buy used, and items made from recycled materials. “We purchased these devices from our County’s Electronic Recycler, Vintage Tech, which refurbishes some devices they recover after cleaning them. The company guarantees them for one year.”

The Land Use Department is led by Director Curt Paddock and is under the County Executive’s office.

Additional information about the Department and its activities can also be found at www.willcountygreen.com.