Clearwater, FL – The Sustany Foundation has announced the Habitat for Humanity of Pinellas and West Pasco Counties ReStores as a finalist for the 2020 Sustainable Business Awards.
The Sustany Foundation works to enhance the quality of life in the Tampa Bay community by promoting sustainability. The organization holds their annual event to recognize companies, who fulfill this mission, and have a commitment to social and environmental responsibility. This includes how to organization operates with energy use, recycling, purchasing policies, office products, community programs, employee programs, governance, diversity, etc. Over 100 nominations were made for businesses and organizations around the Tampa Bay region.
Habitat ReStore is a nonprofit retail center where new and gently used building materials and home furnishings are sold at discounted prices. The ReStore is our solution for turning these donations, from generous and environmentally concerned individuals and businesses, into money to build homes for families and individuals. Each year, we keep nearly 800 tons of reusable materials such as furniture, appliances, plumbing, doors, windows and building materials from our landfills.
Each January, the public is invited to nominate local businesses and organizations that are leading the way in sustainable practices. “This is the second year we received over 100 nominations from the open call,” said Andrea Cheney, President of the Sustany Foundation, “we are thrilled to see so many companies in the Tampa Bay area integrating sustainability into their operations.”
Nominees are then asked to complete an application to describe their efforts in the three pillars of the triple bottom line; people (social impact), planet (environmental impact) and profit (economic impact and governance). The application includes questions about energy use, recycling, purchasing policies, office products, community programs, employee programs, governance, diversity, etc.
The Sustainable Business Awards Green Carpet Gala will take place September 16th at the historic Tampa Theatre. Winners will be selected by a third-party panel who will judge based on social impact, environmental impact, and economic impact and governance.
The event is open to the public, and event details and registration can be found at https://12th-anuual-sustainable-business-awards-tickets.eventbrite.com.
For more information about the ReStores and Habitat for Humanity of Pinellas and West Pasco Counties, please visit www.habitatpwp.org.
Habitat for Humanity of Pinellas County and West Pasco Counties
Since 1985, Habitat for Humanity of Pinellas and West Pasco Counties has served over 813 families and individuals through its new home buyer and exterior repair programs using locally raised funds. Volunteers and the future homeowners construct the homes, which are sold at no profit and financed with a zero-interest loan. Habitat homeowner candidates earn 30 to 80 percent of area median income. Candidates must demonstrate need for adequate shelter; ability to pay back a zero-interest loan and willingness to partner with Habitat to invest 350 to 450 “sweat equity” hours. Mortgage monies are used to build even more homes, making each donation to Habitat a perpetual legacy to the community. Habitat believes that homeownership contributes to family stability, leading, in turn, to community stability. Additionally, the affiliate raises funds through their two ReStores, home improvement outlets where donated household and building items are sold to the public. For more information about Habitat for Humanity of Pinellas and West Pasco Counties, call (727) 536-4755 or visit www.habitatpwp.org.
The Sustany Foundation
Founded in 2007 as a 501c3 nonprofit, the Sustany Foundation is dedicated to advancing sustainability initiatives in the Tampa Bay region and has served as the leading resource for the sustainable business community for over a decade. Through education, collaboration and impactful programs, Sustany promotes environmental stewardship and social responsibility to protect and preserve our unique quality of life in Tampa Bay, now and for future generations. Visit www.sustany.org to learn more.