University of the District of Columbia To Create Four 'Gardens of the Senses' With $25,000 Verizon Foundation Sustainability Grant

WASHINGTON, Feb. 12, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- The University of the District of Columbia (UDC) soon will allow visitors to stop and smell the roses with the creation of four on-campus "Gardens of the Senses."   

Verizon joined UDC officials in a special ceremony Tuesday (Feb. 12) to launch the school's new initiative.  Verizon's $25,000 sustainability grant will support UDC's four teaching gardens on the Van Ness campus.  There will be a garden of colors and sights; one of smells and scents; another of touch; and an additional garden dedicated to plant research. 

Students from District of Columbia schools will be invited to visit and learn about the gardens, which will be maintained by UDC students from the Garden Club of the College of Agricultural, Urban Sustainability and Environmental Sciences (CAUSES), with assistance from faculty and staff.  UDC students will mentor D.C. elementary, middle and high school pupils on such things as how gardens beautify neighborhoods.

"Gardens can be useful, beautiful and inspiring," said Dr. Sabine O'Hara, dean of CAUSES.  "They also build community and have an educational purpose.  We hope that these gardens will serve as a model for beautifying neighborhoods and for extending our teaching and service mission to the residents of the District of Columbia.

"In addition, this project makes a significant contribution to the environmental literacy goal of D.C. Mayor Vincent Gray's 'Sustainable D.C.' initiative," O'Hara added.

Karen I. Campbell, Verizon's vice president of state government affairs, said, "Verizon is committed to minimize its own environmental impact and to find sustainable solutions for customers and partners that accelerate the transition to a low-carbon economy.  Successful sustainability initiatives require real partnerships, and we are pleased to stand with Dr. O'Hara and other UDC officials to invest in the great work that the students and faculty of UDC will complete."

ABOUT THE UNIVERSITY OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
The only public university in the nation's capital and the only urban land-grant university in the United States, The University of the District of Columbia is committed to a broad mission of education, research and community service.  Established by abolitionist Myrtilla Miner in 1851, the University of DC offers Associate's, Bachelor's and Master's Degrees and a host of workplace development services designed to create opportunities for student success.  The University is comprised of a Community College, School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, School of Business and Public Administration, College of Arts and Sciences, College of Agriculture, Urban Sustainability and Environmental Sciences, and the David A. Clarke School of Law.  To learn more, visit www.udc.edu.  For more information about CAUSES and the Gardens of the Senses, please visit: http://www.udc.edu/news/verizon_awards_25000_grant_to_causes_for_innovative_garden_project.

ABOUT THE VERIZON FOUNDATION
The Verizon Foundation is focused on accelerating social change by using the company's innovative technology to help solve pressing problems in education, health care and energy management.  Since 2000, the Verizon Foundation has invested more than half a billion dollars to improve the communities where Verizon employees work and live.  Verizon's employees are generous with their donations and their time, having logged more than 62 million hours of service to make a positive difference in their communities.  For more information, visit www.verizonfoundation.org. 

SOURCE University of the District of Columbia

WANT YOUR COMPANY'S NEWS FEATURED ON PRNEWSWIRE.COM?

440k+
Newsrooms &
Influencers

9k+
Digital Media
Outlets

270k+
Journalists
Opted In

GET STARTED