Bellmon Beneficiaries
Proceeds from the Gala will be split 80% to Sustainable Tulsa and 20% to Tulsa Southside Rotary Foundation.
Sustainable Tulsa
Half of their share will be used to grow their organizations mission of educating the general public about the benefits of sustainable development. The current staff consists of one part time employee.
The other half will be directed at one or more hands on projects. Since this is the inaugural year we have targeted a modest project that can be completed given the current time constraints.
McClain Initiative We will fund a self-contained energy system utilizing solar panels that will heat a 400 square foot greenhouse on the campus of McClain High School ($10,000). Along with an outdoor plot students and their families will become familiar with organic and sustainable gardening, nutrition, food preparation, fitness, and health promotion.
This pilot project will become the model for schools in other locations throughout the state that need to develop local vegetable/fruit gardens thus enriching their quality of life and providing employment.
CNG Stations We anticipate larger projects in succeeding years including promoting and helping to fund local CNG (compressed natural gas) stations. The use of CNG in lieu of diesel fuel in trucks and buses is less expensive (1/3), cleaner burning, and puts us less dependent on foreign oil. Oklahoma has large natural gas reserves and the industry provides employment for many residents
(100,000?). .
Tulsa Southside Rotary Foundation
TSRF has a long history of giving back to the community. Projects include the Biscuit Acres Dog Park (2009), the Dictionary Project (ongoing since 2002) where every 3rd grader in Tulsa Public Schools receives a dictionary (35,000), Be Wise Immunize (over 20 years) in conjunction with the Health Department provides free immunizations for all pre-school children in Tulsa County, and numerous public use facilities such as restrooms on River Parks Trail and playground equipment at Langenheim Park.
Future projects are under consideration.
Click here to support the Bellmon Awards and these projects.
