We had a HUGE number of spooktacular entries for the 2010 design contest (winning design will be featured on a 2010 ChicoBag reusable trick-or-treat bag).

It was extremely difficult to choose the winner (best capturing “the spirit” of Green Halloween), but here are the top three:

First place: Design by 13-year-old Gracie Gralike

Second place: Design by Patrice Narasimhan

Third place: Design by (the 2008/9 winning designer) Estefania Vargas

Thank you SO MUCH to all of the parents, teachers and kids who took part in and/or supported the contest! We look forward to seeing what you come up with for next year’s competition.

For more details on the Green Halloween & ChicoBag trick-or-treat-bag contest, including prizes and sponsors, click here. A percentage of the 2009 Green Halloween ChicoBag are contributed to our non-profit beneficiary, Treeswing.

For the third year in a row, Green Halloween raised funds in support of Treeswing, a Seattle-based nonprofit focused on preventing childhood obesity, as part of our not-for-profit initiative.

What does this mean, exactly?

It means that money raised above the cost of running Green Halloween (e.g. website and hosting, print materials, etc.) was donated as part of our vision to spread the “good.”

Why do we love Treeswing?

Here are just a few of their amazing programs:

Get Fit – Get Smart!

Treeswing’s flagship project “Get Fit – Get Smart!” is a research-based PE curriculum serving 46,000 students in grades K-12.  Implemented in partnership with Seattle Public Schools, the curriculum incorporates health and nutrition concepts into PE classes and allows teachers to monitor their student’s fitness levels, wellness, and academic performance.

JumpUp

“JumpUp” is a partnership initiative between Treeswing and Seattle Children’s Hospital to distribute jump ropes to 5,000 kindergarten students in Seattle Public Schools.  The program is intended to get kids started early on the path to physical fitness and gives them a way to incorporate daily exercise at home.

Boardwalk 5K and Fitness Carnival

Treeswing sponsored the 4th Annual Boardwalk 5K Run and Fitness Carnival held at Husky Stadium on April 26th. Nearly 1000 runners turned out and another 300 kids and families participated in the free activity carnival held on the field (a 100% increase over the previous year.) The event raises money to support physical education programs in Seattle Public Schools.

Sammamish Splash – “Get Out There and TRI”athlon
Treeswing was a lead partner in launching the Sammamish Splash, an event geared towards creating a positive, achievable triathlon experience for children and their families who want to give one a try. The Splash was held on August 23^rd at Lake Sammamish State Park and included swimming, running and biking events for kids of all ages.  The multi-sport event allowed kids to interact with others their age and helped them to develop a positive attitude about physical fitness. The Get Out There and TRI series is sponsored by Mary Meyer Life Fitness.

Support Treeswing
Treeswing relies on financial support from the community to help us improve the health of children in the Seattle area. If you or someone you know cares about children’s wellness and would like to support Treeswing through sponsorships or contributions, please visit Treeswing’s website at http://www.treeswing.org/understanding-the-problem to donate.

Our interview on AM Northwest in Portland (filmed at the Portland Humane Society)

With Shaniqua Manning on Northwest Cable News

October issue of Working Mother

NPR  – Two segments: one with Rose Scott and one on Tell Me More

For a complete list of our 2009 press coverage, check out our latest Green Halloween e-newsletter.

Article: Sustainable season’s greetings: creative ideas for meaningful, eco-friendly celebrations that honor diverse traditions

By: Corey Colwell-Lipson & Lynn Colwell

Corey & Lynn wrote the feature article in the November/ December issue of Mothering magazine, available in stores now.

The 7-page spread is a dream come true for the mother-daughter duo because Lynn wrote for Mothering when Corey was a child! Now here they are, writing together on their favorite subject, in one of their favorite magazines.

Article: The holidays, unplugged

By: Charlotte Latvala

Corey was interviewed for the November/December issue of Kiwi magazine! She’s so honred to be included in a publication she’s head-over-heels for. Lynn and Corey also blog for Kiwi, so if you’re looking for year ’round tips on celebrating green, log on to Kiwi anytime here.

The winner and two runners up for the 2010 Green Halloween/ChicoBag trick-or-treat bag design contest were just announced on ChicoBag’s facebook page!

Winning designs will soon be posted on ChicoBag’s website and Green Halloween’s website, so please stay tuned.

Congratulations to the children who created the selected designs and a high five to all who entered. There were so many incredible submissions this year! If your design was not selected, fear not – our 2011 contest will be underway in a few months.

Parents and teachers, thank you so much for your participation and support. We hope that taking part in this contest sparked some conversations about being healthy and eco-wise – even during holidays. If you would like more ideas, please see our action kits for parents and teachers, which can be adapted for almost any holiday or celebration.