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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: John Batdorf
Email:
john@uheac.org
4TH
ANNUAL EARTH DAY EXPO MOVING TO MAIN STREET
50,000+ Expected in Rochester for F r e e Two-Day Event
Rochester, MI -- The 39th Earth Day will be this April 22nd. It is the
largest annual secular event in the world, observed in 150 countries by over
one billion people. Upland Hills Ecological Awareness Center and the
Rochester DDA are pleased to do join in this global celebration and bring
Earth Day's hopeful message to main street.
The 4th
annual Earth Day Expo will be Michigan’s largest Earth Day gathering. It
will be moving to downtown Rochester and expanding to two full days -
Saturday & Sunday, April 18th and 19th. The Expo will offer the public a
wide variety of fun, informative, earth-friendly activities including: 150+
green and wellness exhibits, presentations and films, alternative vehicle
and energy displays, organic food service, farmers’ market and petting farm,
kids corner, hands-on demonstrations, music and entertainment, prizes
drawings, f r e e massage and yoga, and sustainable project tours, as well
as a community-building Connections Cafe’. The expo will attract an
anticipated attendance of over 50,000 interested in healthy, earth-friendly
living and looking for green alternatives in food, energy, wellness,
transportation, clothing, personal care, home, garden, finances and more.
"We are
building on the success of our first three expo which were held at Oakland
University. Last year, over 6,000 attended the one-day event indoors at the
Oakland Center. To serve a larger audience, we have decided to grow the Expo
outdoors and bring it to main street Rochester, where the green economy has
already taken root," said John Batdorf, Upland Hills EAC Executive Director
and Expo Manager. "We want to make the Earth Day Expo THE place to celebrate
Earth Day and to learn about the dedicated efforts of businesses, non-profit
organizations, and government to promote a brighter, greener future for
Michigan."
The Expo
promises to offer something for everyone including the opportunity to
celebrate, learn, shop and connect. The family-friendly event is
open 10am-6pm on Saturday and 10am-4pm on Sunday and is f r e e of charge.
It will bring together local green and wellness businesses, major companies
promoting their green initiatives, and leading educators and advocates, all
with a focus on building sustainable, healthy community. The expo will
center around a unique Connections Cafe’ which will provide a relaxed
atmosphere for sharing ideas and success stories.
Steve
Rogge, Expo Sponsorship Manager, has many years of experience in automotive
marketing but is happy to change gears and promote a green event. "With a f
r e e public event, we are asking sponsors and community leaders to help us
take this to the next level. So far, the response has been gratifying;
people are really getting behind the message of sustainability. Sponsors see
the Expo as a way to get out their green message, support a good cause, and
spend their limited marketing funds efficiently. Although every sector of
our economy is suffering, nearly all of them have green initiatives that are
offering a positive direction and providing hope for a better future."
On the
Wednesday before the expo, a Media Day and Welcome Reception will be hosted
by Mind, Body & Spirits restaurant in Rochester, where the public
can rub elbows with VIPs, media and leaders in the green movement, as well
as get a taste of the expo - literally. Short presentations will be made
by dignitaries, educators and sponsors. Tickets for the reception are $25
and include organic snacks and drink.
The Expo
was brought to Rochester with the help of Marilyn Trent, Rochester DDA Green
Committee Chair. "We have been working to make Rochester greener and are
very excited about the momentum the Expo will provide for our initiatives.
The Rochester area has a lot of natural beauty with its parks, trails,
and rivers, as well as an attractive business district which is now home to
several green businesses."
For
information about sponsoring, exhibiting, attending, or volunteering at the
Expo, or to register for the reception, visit
www.earthdayexpo.org.
Upland
Hills Ecological Awareness Center is a 501c3 organization. It is a
designated Michigan Energy Demonstration Center and model of eco-friendly
design and renewable energy applications, located in northern Oakland
County. It provides resources that promote a sustainable relationship with
the natural world and each other. UHEAC can be reached at
www.uheac.org,
john@uheac.org
or 248 693-1021.
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