TRABUCO CANYON, Calif., Oct. 13, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- This fall, a group of lucky Orange County children will be able to explore nature at the Audubon Starr Ranch Sanctuary, a program of Audubon California in Trabuco Canyon, CA. The children will participate in science-based nature programs, contribute to on-the-ground conservation work and take advantage of a variety of programs at the sanctuary because Verizon Wireless has awarded the chapter a $10,000 grant to promote educational experiences in science and nature.

"We are thankful for the generous donation from Verizon Wireless because Audubon's mission is to preserve wildlife habitat, particularly for birds. Environmental education is one of our most important tools in moving people to appreciate and conserve wild lands," said Pete DeSimone, Manager of Audubon California's Starr Ranch Sanctuary. "This grant will help us do that by supporting vibrant environmental education programs at Starr Ranch in Orange County and provide opportunities for community members to learn about nature right where they live."

The grant is an extension of Verizon Wireless' growing commitment to going green, which has helped them earn LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certification from the United States Green Building Council (USGBC) at two Orange County Verizon Wireless Communication Stores in the past year. The Fullerton location was recognized with Silver certification and the Huntington Beach store achieved Gold certification. The certified stores' design optimizes water and energy use, enhances indoor environmental quality and reduces waste through responsible procurement and construction practices. Both stores also serve as collection points for Verizon's HopeLine phone recycling program.

"We value the work the Audubon Starr Ranch Sanctuary does in our community," said Luis Cruz, regional president of Verizon Wireless. "This grant reinforces our commitment to a creating a better environment."

About Verizon Wireless

Verizon Wireless operates the nation's fastest, most advanced 4G network and largest, most reliable 3G network. The company serves 106.3 million total wireless connections, including 89.7 million retail customers. Headquartered in Basking Ridge, N.J., with 83,000 employees nationwide, Verizon Wireless is a joint venture of Verizon Communications (NYSE, NASDAQ: [ VZ ]) and Vodafone (LSE, NASDAQ: VOD). For more information, visit [ www.verizonwireless.com ]. To preview and request broadcast-quality video footage and high-resolution stills of Verizon Wireless operations, log on to the Verizon Wireless Multimedia Library at [ www.verizonwireless.com/multimedia ].

About USGBC

The U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) is a 501(c)(3) non profit composed of leaders from every sector of the building industry working to promote buildings and communities that are environmentally responsible, profitable and healthy places to live and work. The U.S. Green Building Council developed the LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Green Building Rating System.

About LEED®

The LEED Green Building Rating System™ is the nationally accepted benchmark for the design, construction and operation of high performance green buildings.

About Audubon California

Audubon California is building a better future for California by bringing people together to appreciate, enjoy and protect our spectacular outdoor treasures. Audubon California is a field program of National Audubon, with more than 50,000 members in California and an affiliated 48 local chapters dedicated to protecting birds, wildlife and the habitats that support them.

SOURCE Audubon California

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Kids Gain Hands-on Experience with Audubon, Thanks to Verizon Grant

Kids Gain Hands-on Experience with Audubon, Thanks to Verizon Grant

Audubon's sanctuary in Orange County, California helps local children learn about the environment first-hand