The UT Lake Erie Center is teaming up with Barefoot Wines and the Alliance for the Great Lakes tohost a public Adopt-a-Beach cleanup on Friday, June 28 at Maumee Bay State Park in Oregon, Ohio.

“Cleanup efforts like this are a great way to increase public awareness about the value of the Lake Erie ecosystem, and the importance of caring for it,” said Meredith Gray, UT communications and technology specialist.

The cleanup will take place 4-6 p.m. at the Lake Erie beach at Maumee Bay State Park, followed by a free celebration party inside the Maumee Bay Lodge and Conference Center until 8:30 p.m., featuring surf-inspired fare and Barefoot Wine (for volunteers 21 and older).

The Adopt-a-Beach program helps clean up Great Lakes beaches and shorelines with a special celebration recognizing volunteers’ efforts.

In 2012, more than 12,000 Adopt-a-Beach volunteers removed 42,351 pounds of trash at 327 locations in Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, New York, Ohio and Wisconsin.

Gray encourages members of the University community to volunteer to assist the UT Lake Erie Center with its mission to engage the community in environmental education, sustainable living, and informed outreach awareness programs through the fun Adopt-a-Beach program.

For more information, visit www.greatlakes.org/adoptabeach or contact Gray directly at meredith.gray@utoledo.edu or 419.530.8361.

WHAT:
Barefoot Wine is teaming up with the Alliance for the Great Lakes and UT Lake Erie Center to host a public Adopt-a-Beach™ cleanup at Maumee Bay State Park Beach. Following the cleanup, volunteers ages 21 and older are invited to attend a celebration featuring Barefoot Wine and surf-inspired fare at Maumee Bay State Park Lodge.

The event is part of a partnership between Barefoot Wine and the Alliance’s Adopt-a-Beach™ Program to help clean up Great Lakes beaches and shorelines and offer a special celebration to recognize volunteers’ efforts. In 2011, more than 8,000 Adopt-a-Beach™ volunteers removed 32,668 pounds of trash at 254 locations in Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, New York, Ohio and Wisconsin.

This cleanup is part of a series of events this summer with Barefoot Wine and the Alliance for the Great Lakes. For more info on additional events in your area, visit: GreatLakes.org

WHO:
Barefoot Wine, fun, flavorful and affordable wines and bubblies.

Alliance for the Great Lakes, a nonprofit organization with the mission of conserving and restoring the world’s largest freshwater resource using policy, education and local efforts, ensuring a healthy Great Lakes and clean water for generations of people and wildlife.

UT Lake Erie Center. Part of the mission of the UT Lake Erie Center is to engage secondary school students, teachers, and the public with environmental education, sustainable living, and informed outreach awareness programs.

WHEN AND WHERE:

Friday, August 3, 2012
Cleanup                                                     Celebration
4 – 6 p.m.                                                   6:30 – 8:30 p.m.
Maumee Bay State Park                               Beach Maumee Bay State Park Lodge
1750 State Park Road                                  1750 State Park Road
Oregon, OH 43616                                      Oregon, OH 43616
Meet at the Barefoot Wine tent

EVENT COST:
No charge and open to the public; celebration is open to participants 21 years of age or older

CONTACT:
Barefoot Wine & Bubbly: Brent Bowen, brent@barefootwine.com, 614-312-0854.
Alliance for the Great Lakes: Hyle Lowry, hlowry@greatlakes.org, 216-630-8140.
Hunter Public Relations: Blaine Rueber, brueber@hunterpr.com, 212-679-6600.