Deirdre Imus Keynote Speaker at K-12 Day School: "GREENS FARMS ACADEMY AHEAD OF 'GREEN' CURVE"

WESTPORT, CT., February 23, 2009 – "Greens Farms Academy is ahead of the curve on greening, from cleaning products to healthier meals and snacks for students," said author, philanthropist and children's health advocate Deirdre Imus in a keynote address to more than 100 faculty and parents last month at the K-12 independent day school in Westport.

The impact of the school's greening efforts, including the adoption of the award-winning Greening the Cleaning® program from the Deirdre Imus Environmental Center for Pediatric Oncology®, can extend to the wider community as people start greening their daily lives, Ms. Imus said.

"Many people have told me that they want to eliminate toxins in their environment, but they don't know where to start. I tell them to just pick one thing. It could be organic milk, or an organic apple for your child's lunch, or a household cleaner or laundry detergent. That one thing will lead you to make other changes -- and it can have a significant impact," Ms. Imus said. "Organic apples reduce the pesticides your family ingests, as well as what goes into our soil and groundwater. By switching to Greening the Cleaning products, you improve the quality of air in your school and home and keep hazardous chemicals from entering the waste stream."

Ms. Imus said "greening" is more of a mindset than a destination. She noted, "there are still things that I want to add to my green list like more organic fabrics and greener personal care like hair coloring and deodorants.”

Deirdre Imus is the founder and president of the Deirdre Imus Environmental Center for Pediatric Oncology® (www.dienviro.com), part of Hackensack University Medical Center (HUMC) in New Jersey, a 501 (c) (3) not-for-profit corporation. The Environmental Center represents one of the first hospital-based programs whose specific mission is to identify, control, and ultimately prevent exposures to environmental factors that may cause adult, and especially pediatric cancer, as well as other health problems with our children.

During her presentation, Ms. Imus fielded questions on topics from safer foods to green vaccines. She urged the audience to support children's health legislation, in particular, the Kids Safe Chemicals Act that would help protect children by requiring manufacturers to provide health and safety information before distributing a chemical in consumer products.

Ms. Imus also signed copies of her latest book in the New York Times bestselling Green This! series -- The Essential Green You!, Easy Ways to Detox Your Diet, Your Body and Your Life. In the book, Ms. Imus shares tips on how to "green" the way you take care of yourself, whether with the food you eat or the clothes you wear, or the cosmetics, and personal care products you use every single day.

Greening the Cleaning is an important element in the Environmental Center's Greening Your School campaign. Greens Farms Academy joins hundreds of healthcare facilities, government authorities, businesses and schools that have implemented the program since 2001, with direct savings in cleaning costs ranging from budget neutral to 75 percent.

Greening the Cleaning means eliminating to the greatest extent possible, all cleaning agents containing hazardous ingredients and replacing them with naturally-derived ingredients with the least level of toxicity. One hundred percent of all profits from the institutional products go to the Environmental Center for supporting education and research to identify, control and ultimately prevent exposures to environmental factors that may cause adult, and especially, pediatric cancer, as well as other health problems with our children.

Inspired by our award-winning program, the Greening the Cleaning household line is available in stores nationwide, as well as from Imus Ranch Foods. One hundred percent of all profits from the retail line go to the Imus Cattle Ranch for Kids with Cancer, a 501(c) (3) not-for-profit. Ms. Imus is co-founder and co-director of the authentic 4,000 acre working cattle ranch in northern New Mexico, which provides the experience of the American cowboy to children suffering from cancer and various blood diseases, as well as to children who have lost a brother or sister to Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS).

Numerous organizations have recognized Deirdre Imus for her service in championing children's health issues. The United Service Organization (USO) of Metropolitan New York awarded the high honor of “Woman of the Year” in 2008. Deirdre serves on the boards of several children’s health organizations, including the National Autism Association, Generation Rescue, Safe Minds, SKIP of New York, and East Harlem Council for Human Services, Inc., Boriken Neighborhood Health Center.

About Greens Farms Academy
Greens Farms Academy is a K-12, independent day school dedicated to guiding students through a rigorous course of study encompassing academics, arts and athletics. In a supportive community built on trust, they give the students the opportunity to become critical, independent and creative thinkers and encourage them to explore particular passions that will sustain them throughout their lives. GFA believes that a diverse school environment enriches learning, creates respect for differences and prepares students to become socially responsible leaders. By practicing good citizenship, demonstrating moral character and actively engaging in community service, the students embody the school motto, Quisque Pro Omnibus, Each for All.

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