Thought Center

sustainability

Students Travel to Los Angeles to Build Homes During Spring Break as Part of 25th Anniversary of Habitat for Humanity’s Collegiate Challenge

Students from Air Force Academy, University of Connecticut & Fisher College Spent Spring Break Building Affordable, Sustainable Homes in Lynwood

Los Angeles, CA – April 18, 2014: More than 45 students from The United States Air Force Academy, University of Connecticut and Fisher College participated in the 25th anniversary of Collegiate Challenge with Habitat for Humanity of Greater Los Angeles. Student volunteers chose to spend their spring break working in the Norwalk ReStore, as well as painting and installing siding on seven affordable and sustainable homes in the City of Lynwood. 

Collegiate Challenge Summer Registration (April 6-Aug. 30) is now open. Click here to register.

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Deconstruction & ReUse Network Joins the AmazonSmile Program

Laguna Beach, CA – January 21, 2014:  Deconstruction and ReUse Network (DRN) is thrilled to announce it is now a featured nonprofit in the AmazonSmile program, where Amazon donates 0.5% of the price of eligible AmazonSmile purchases to the charitable organizations selected by customers. To participate, shoppers sign in with their usual Amazon login info at smile.amazon.com, then search for and select “Deconstruction and ReUse Network” under the ‘choose your own charities’ space.

“We are very excited about the potential possibilities of growth for DRN since becoming an AmazonSmile charity,” says Lorenz Schilling, founder of DRN. “This platform will give us increased exposure and much-needed funding to help us continue our mission.”

DRN is dedicated to educating people and empowering the use of deconstruction practices and the reuse of quality building materials through collaboration.

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ANEW Announces Two Patron Level Sponsors

[Pasadena, CA – May 28, 2013] Asset Network for Education Worldwide, Inc. (ANEW) is pleased to recognize PARALLELTEK and J+J/Invision as champions in the field of social responsibility and environmental practices. Each of these companies named members representing senior leadership to work with ANEW and have signed on as Patron Sponsors to join efforts toward bettering industry practices.

PARALLETEK is an integrated smart office technology company headed by President and General Manager Anthony Minite. Minite’s support for ANEW began during his previous post as President and CEO of Bentley Prince Street, California’s largest commercial carpet manufacturer. While there, Minite backed the ANEW Social Sustainability® mission by providing warehouse space and supporting them as a sustaining sponsor. In 2012 he was unanimously elected chairman of the board for the organization.

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ANEW & USGBC-LA Announce Partnership to Serve Communities Through the Repurposing of Surplus Assets

Begins with Support of 15 New Libraries in Chihuahua, Mexico

 [Pasadena, CA – October 08, 2012] Asset Network for Education Worldwide, Inc. (ANEW) and the United States Green Building Council Los Angeles Chapter (USGBC-LA) have announced a partnership to team up on projects that will have a positive environmental and social impact on communities locally and beyond. The announcement came Friday, September 28th at the USGBC-LA’s 8th Annual Green Gala event.  ANEW and USGBC-LA have committed to work with the World is Just a Book Away (WIJABA) organization to build 15 libraries in the state of Chihuahua, Mexico.

Rose Tourje, founder of ANEW said: “Anytime we are called upon to serve those in need, we are living out our daily practice of “doing”.

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ANEW Welcomes AIS as a Steward Sponsor

[Pasadena, CA – August 21, 2012] Asset Network for Education Worldwide, Inc. (ANEW) has partnered with AIS, a leading commercial furniture manufacturer, to promote the practice of redirecting surplus office furniture to public agencies and charities. AIS has signed on as a Steward Sponsor and, in addition to funding, will also provide ANEW as a resource to its clients who are faced with the task of liquidating surplus furniture, fixture and architectural materials.

Rose Tourje, founder of ANEW said:  “When asked, most companies will say they want to do the right thing for their community and the environment. Crossing the threshold and taking action is what matters most. We’re talking about people coming together for a single purpose – to unite social responsibility with environmental sustainability. AIS is a progressive company that values this practice and is enthusiastic about creating positive change.

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Bentley Prince Street Returns to Entrepreneurial Roots with a Focus on Product Expansion and Global Growth

Anthony P. Minite, president

[City of Industry, CA – July 25, 2012] The management team of Bentley Prince Street is pleased to announce that it has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire the company from its parent, Interface, Inc. (NASDAQ: IFSIA), and return the distinguished commercial carpet manufacturer to a privately-owned entity.  The transaction is expected to close in the coming few weeks. Management, making the purchase together with Dominus Capital, a private equity investment firm, plans to capitalize on the company’s over-thirty-year history of designing award-winning commercial carpet products to expand its broadloom, carpet tile and area rug businesses worldwide.  In the coming year, Bentley Prince Street will be increasing its efforts to meet industry demand for innovation and performance, while reinforcing its legacy of design excellence.

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“ANEW: doing what’s right with what’s left®” Short Documentary Wins Eco-Award at Awareness Film Festival in Los Angeles

Visit ANEW at Dwell on Design to View Award-Winning Film & Join the Social Sustainability® Movement

 Los Angeles, CA – [June 22, 2012] Asset Network for Education Worldwide, Inc. (ANEW), a 501 (c)(3) non-profit organization, teamed up with Change for Balance Productions to create a short documentary, “ANEW: doing what’s right with what’s left®.” The documentary is currently on the film festival circuit and is serving as an effective platform for calling attention to the work ANEW does turning surplus furniture, architectural materials and building assets into service. Since May, the documentary has been an official selection at the Catalina and FILManthropy Film Festivals and, most recently, was named the winner of the “Eco Award” at the Awareness Festival in Los Angeles.

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Rose Tourje Urges Design Community to Practice Decommission vs Demolition at NeoCon 2012

ANEW Founder to Participate in “Sustainability Without Boarders” Panel Discussion

Chicago, IL – [June 11, 2012] Rose Tourje, founder and president of Asset Network for Education Worldwide, Inc. (ANEW), will be representing the 501(c)(3) non-profit organization at this year’s NeoCon World’s Trade Fair. The show runs June 11-13, 2012 at the Merchandise Mart in Chicago and will shine a spotlight on the latest and greatest new products, while Tourje will be standing up for doing what’s right with what’s left®. There will be several opportunities for attendees to connect with Tourje and learn more about the important work ANEW does by transforming surplus into service.

Tourje will lead a panel discussion, “Sustainability Without Borders,” with John Peterson of Public Architecture and Tracy Backus of Teknion.

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GSA Recognizes Bentley Prince Street with a 3rd Evergreen Award

Each Year the GSA Honors Four Companies for their Commitment to the Environment

City of Industry, CA – [April 2, 2012] Bentley Prince Street, Inc., an industry leader in commercial carpet design, quality and sustainability, is honored to receive the 2011 Evergreen Award from the U.S. General Services Administration’s (GSA) Integrated Workplace Acquisition Center (IWACenter). Bentley Prince Street has been honored three times; first in 2001 jointly with parent company Interface; again in 2008 and now for 2011. Every year the GSA IWACenter invites environmentally conscientious business partners to participate in its Evergreen Award program, which was developed to recognize efforts in recycling, affirmative procurement and waste reduction that can set an example for other IWACenter business partners to follow. The Evergreen Award itself “closes the recycling loop” in that it is made from recycled glass.

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