St. Gerard House & Immaculata Catholic School Adopt The Deirdre Imus Environmental Health Center's® Greening The Cleaning® Program
HENDERSONVILLE, NC Oct 7, 2011 – St. Gerard House and Immaculata Catholic School today announced continued efforts to “go green” for health and wellness to enhance focus on the whole child. The new facility at 620 Oakland Street recently began using Greening The Cleaning® products from The Deirdre Imus Environmental Health Center® at Hackensack University Medical Center. The plant-based, biodegradable products are more environmentally responsible and less toxic than typical household cleaning chemicals. All profits from the institutional products go back to the Deirdre Imus Environmental Health Center® for supporting the GTC Greening The Cleaning® program in addition to funding education and research to identify, control, and ultimately prevent toxic exposures in the environment that threaten children's health.
“These efforts, including our Greening The Cleaning® program, change the way we think about the environment around us," said Deirdre Imus, founder and President of The Deirdre Imus Environmental Health Center®, a 501(c) (3) not-for-profit.
The new building houses St. Gerard House’s Grotto School for children with autism, as well as Immaculata’s Pre-K and middle school classrooms. “We are lucky to be in a brand new facility that is specifically designed for teaching children with autism. Because we understand the importance of environment, we are very excited for the opportunity to use these products,” says Caroline Long, Executive Director of St. Gerard House. “These products are safe and easy to use, and we can keep the facility clean without threatening the health of our children, teachers, and therapists.”
The facility’s green initiative began in the fall of 2010 during the building process. The new facility was designed and built by Ken Gaylord Architects/Black Hawk Construction. Energy-saving features and deliberate design of the space provide a healthful and supportive learning environment for all children enrolled in the programs, both typically developing children, as well as those facing developmental delays and autism.
St. Gerard House and Immaculata join over 400 schools, healthcare facilities, government agencies and businesses that have adopted the green cleaning program since its inception in 2001.
ABOUT THE DEIRDRE IMUS ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH CENTER ®:
The Deirdre Imus Environmental Health Center® at Hackensack University Medical Center represents one of the first hospital-based programs whose specific mission is to identify, control and ultimately prevent toxic exposures in the environment that threaten our children's health. The Center’s mission is twofold: to enhance health by educating our children, their parents and the public-at-large about the carcinogens and other environmental factors that occur all too commonly in our lives…and to serve as a voice that can realistically help shape policy decisions that impact the environment and our well being.
About Deirdre Imus:
Deirdre Imus is the Founder and President of The Deirdre Imus Environmental Health Center ® at Hackensack University Medical Center and Co-Founder/Director of the Imus Cattle Ranch for Kids with Cancer. She is a New York Times best-selling author and a frequent contributor to FoxNewsHealth.com and Foxbusiness.com. Numerous organizations have recognized Ms. Imus’ impact. She was honored with the 2009 Lifetime Achievement Award from the Northeast Organic Farming Association and named as one of Glamour Magazine’s Eco Heroes for 2009. Deirdre serves on the boards of several children’s health organizations, including the National Autism Association, Safe Minds, Generation Rescue, SKIP of New York, East Harlem Council for Human Services, Inc., Boriken Neighborhood Health Center and Gilda's Club - Northern NJ.