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Earthentree: News
For Immediate Release
Kirkland-based Earthentree Supports Local Schools Through its New Fall Fundraising Program, “Earthentree for Education: Ten Percent for Schools”
Owner and former educator, Deepti Shankar puts her dollars where her passions lie
CONTACT:
Karen Dawson
Dawson Communications Group
425.442.4931
karen@dawsoncommunicationsgroup.com
KIRKLAND, Wash. (October 1, 2008) – Local toy company, Earthentree announces the launch of a fall fundraiser benefiting local schools; “Earthentree for Education: Ten Percent for Schools”. Earthentree is offering all local schools (pre-school through 12th grade) the opportunity to earn 10 percent of all sales to its parents, friends and supporters without any administrative work on the part of the school.
Parents and school supporters can simply go to the Earthentree Web site between October 1 and December 31, place an order, let Earthentree know what school they’d like the donation to go to and 10 percent of the order will be contributed directly to the school.
Earthentree’s owner Deepti Shankar, is a parent and art historian herself. Having lived in India during her formative years, Shankar keeps her Indian culture and education alive through the handmade, artisan made, non-toxic wooden toys Earthentree sells, each one handcrafted in the town she grew up in, Channapatna, India, near Bangalore.
“My passion is in education,” says Shankar. “As a woman who is a business owner and the mother of a two-year-old daughter, I feel that education is the greatest gift that any of us can give or receive. I hope that, through the Earthentree for Education program, we will be able to touch the educational lives of children and enable schools to fund new or existing projects that will benefit their learners.”
Here’s how Earthentree for Education works:
- Any parent, grandparent, teacher or school administrator interested in participating can contact Earthentree at info@earthentree.com to request postcards to share with parents and friends of the school to inform them about the fundraiser.
- When a parent or friend of the school places the order, in the comments section of the checkout process, the customer can input the school’s name and address.
- Earthentree will write one check directly to each school for 10 percent of each order placed by supporters of that school. All checks will be distributed by January 31, 2009.
While Shankar is initially focusing on schools in the Puget Sound area, she encourages all schools to get involved and will contribute to any school located in the United States. For more information about the Earthentree for Education fundraiser, please visit www.earthentree.com or contact info@earthentree.com.
About Earthentree
Earthentree’s aim is to provide eco-friendly, toxin-free, safe, handmade wooden toys for children to play with and let their imagination sore. Its natural wooden toys are works of art that each have a story to tell. Its founders believe in educating customers on the benefits of choosing wooden toys, colored by vegetable dyes for their young children and strive to provide a deep and wide selection so that they can select just the perfect, unique gift for the child in their life that will provide educational entertainment now and will be a family heirloom in years to come.
Owner and Founder Deepti Shankar personally oversees every aspect of Earthentree’s operation, ensuring the quality and consistency of Earthentree products and customer service. Shankar’s holistic approach to managing Earthentree ensures that her compassionate touch is seen and felt through every aspect of Earthentree’s business.
Each toy is handmade by an artisan community in India with whom Earthentree is intimately tied, paying fair wages and taking good care of each artisan so that they can, in turn, care for their families. Shankar works diligently to help sustain toy making as an art form in India by collaborating with the artisans directly to consistently introduce new and innovative toys to Earthentree’s customers and raise the bar in the marketplace as a whole.
For more information about Earthentree, please visit: www.earthentree.com.
Earthentree is keen on being Green
We really have creative ideas on operating our business the green way:
We recycle and reuse all packaging materials and office supplies.
Walk or use hybrid cars to run errands.
Use energy efficient bulbs.
We arrange pickups and delivery locally in ways that will save on gas and shipping.
Our Artisans are green too!
Earthentree doesn’t just promote our artisans for their crafting skills - We are in such awe of their conservation and recycling skills that we would like to share it with you:
Most of our artisans traditionally recycle bags or use long lasting hand woven bags.
They tear out coconut fiber to scrub clean their cooking utensils with natural soap nut powder!
Recycle text books amongst the community for children going to school.
Most bicycle or walk to work.
They are artisans working with all the hardships in life and yet are shinning examples of conservation.*
Hurrah to our artisans for giving us one more reason to be really proud of our products.
*Please note that conservation is not a life style choice for this community. Conservation and recycling is a necessity because of limited resources.
Email your comments, green tips and ideas to subscribe@earthentree.com.
We will share it on our website in our Go Green! section.
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