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Pressroom:
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For Unique Morgan Hill-based Business Sweat Equity =
2002
Social Equity for Sustainability Award
5/2/02
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Oakland,
CA - A Morgan Hill-based
business, Eco-Care Professional Housecleaning, was honored
last week with the 2002 Social Equity for Sustainability Award
at the 12th Annual Business Environmental Awards Luncheon held in
Santa Clara. The award was presented jointly by Acterra, a Palo
Alto based environmental non-profit that each year chooses to “honor
and highlight innovative programs and outstanding achievements which
contribute toward a sustainable Bay Area”, and the Santa Clara
County Pollution Prevention Committee.
How does a housecleaning company win a sustainability award?
According to Deborah Clark, Director of Business Programs at Acterra,
Eco-Care was selected to win this year’s award because “of
its ability to fully address the three E’s underlying the concept
of sustainability.” These include: Economy through employee
ownership model, Environment through environmentally-conscious supply
management and the use of effective and less toxic cleaning techniques,
and Equity through fair wages, continual education, encouragement
of minority workers and a high sense of ethics.
What makes Eco-Care Professional Housecleaning so unique?
Eco-Care, a women-owned and operated business cooperative, which
two days ago (April 30) celebrated its one-year anniversary, was
founded by a group of Latina women living in Morgan Hill, San Martin
and Hollister. The group started the business out of their strong
desire to protect the environment, their own health and that of
their clients, as well as to provide income for themselves and their
families. Eco-Care uses products such as baking soda, vinegar and
vegetable-based soaps to clean, and are currently the only
housecleaning business in their service area, extending from South
San Jose to Hollister, to offer 100% eco-friendly housecleaning
services.
Eco-Care is one of a number of associated cooperatives that have
been developed with the assistance of WAGES (Women’s Action
to Gain Economic Security). WAGES is an Oakland-based non-profit
dedicated to helping low-income women become self-sufficient through
cooperative business ownership.
For the last year the owners of Eco-Care have worked tremendously
hard to ensure the success of their business – learning everything
from basic business administration and finances to product selection
and purchasing. Teresa Perez, Eco-Care member-owner, says of winning
the 2002 Social Equity for Sustainability Award: “I
feel very proud to have won this award. It is a recognition of all
our hard work and effort … not just for me but for all 8 members
of the cooperative.”
For information about Eco-Care Professional Housecleaning, including
rates and estimates, contact Mayda Iglesias at: (408) 778-8445
For information about Acterra contact Deborah Clark, Director
of Business Programs, Acterra at:
(650) 962-9876
Press
contact:
Rachel Gonzalez
510-272-0564
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