PITCH-IN CANADA Week
POST Media Release

(name of group) CLEANS-UP (area) during
PITCH-IN CANADA WEEK

(City/Town), (Date of release): Volunteers from (name of group) collected (# of bags or weight) of garbage accumulated in (area) over the winter as part of national effort to clean-up the environment on (date and time of event).

The volunteers were part of PITCH-IN CANADA WEEK, a program of PITCH-IN CANADA, a national non-profit organization which was established in 1967. The national organization provides information about PITCH-IN CANADA WEEK and its many other campaigns on its web site located at www.pitch-in.ca

OPTIONAL PARAGRAPH - only use this paragraph if you did not issue a pre-clean-up release."We wanted to show environmental leadership and instill pride in the beauty of our community," said (name of spokesperson), spokesperson for (name of group)."By picking up litter and garbage we became more aware of what's being thrown away. We now have a better understanding of the consequences of littering."

Most of the litter found by the volunteers consisted of (explain). Other items included (list unusual discoveries). Note: if your group participated in the PITCH-IN CANADA Pollution Count then enter findings here.

OPTIONAL PARAGRAPH for Pollution Count Participants only: "It would appear that the garbage which we collected could have been prevented from entering our environment if everyone took greater care in how they dispose waste," comments (last name of spokesperson). "Most litter in communities is often waste which has not been properly containerized and comes from various sources, such as construction sites, commercial refuse containers, household waste containers, uncovered trucks, overflowing litter baskets and, of course, pedestrians and motorists." Our findings indicated that some of the garbage we found might have come from....(provide details as per your findings)

PITCH-IN CANADA National Chairman Alice Johnson said the PITCH-IN campaign would be impossible without the volunteer help.

"We want to thank everyone from (name of group), and everyone from across Canada, who helped out," said Johnson. "Without them, the effort never would have been made. Tens of millions of dollars worth of volunteer labour are donated by PITCH-IN CANADA volunteers. It's great that so many people are willing to give their time for the cause of environmental stewardship." Johnson added that she knows local governments are grateful for the voluntary assistance provided, especially in light of financial cutbacks in most communities.

PITCH-IN CANADA established PITCH-IN WEEK in 1969. Each year since, youth groups, conservation clubs, schools, church groups, volunteer organizations and municipal governments have taken part in roadside and property clean-ups, recycling drives, habitat improvement and other clean-up across Canada. More than one million volunteers from 750+ communities across Canada participate in the annual campaign.

PITCH-IN CANADA WEEK is supported by local municipal governments, the media and a number of voluntary organizations including Scouts Canada, The Girl Guides of Canada, Women's Institutes and many others.

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For more information, contact (name of spokesperson) at (phone number).

To contact PITCH-IN CANADA: Fax: (604) 535-4653, Email: pitch-in@pitch-in.ca
Voicemail for PITCH-IN CANADA's President (604) 473-6495
Visit PITCH-IN CANADA's Media Center for more information at www.pitch-in.ca