April 15, 2009
Vol. 39, No. 159

Contact: Chris Polo, Delaware State Parks, 302-739-9177; or Necia Beck, Delaware State Parks, 302-739-9175, Necia.Beck@state.de.us

Macy’s and Delaware State Parks
Turn Over a New Leaf for Earth Week

DOVER, Del. - In celebration of Earth Week, Delaware State Parks is partnering with Macy’s department stores to help raise awareness and generate funds for state park support groups and environmental education for Delaware kids. Macy’s Turn Over a New Leaf program, a national charitable campaign designed to support, educate and inspire eco-friendly practices in everyday life, began last year, but this is the first year of participation for Delaware State Parks.

Macy’s staff will offer their support to Delaware State Parks by doing volunteer work in the parks during Earth Week, April 19-25. Staff members are not the only ones helping out, though; customers can also participate in the campaign by making a $5 donation for a Turn Over a New Leaf shopping pass. The passes, available at Macy’s stores on Concord Pike and at Christiana and Dover malls, as well as from Delaware State Park Friends’ groups, are good between April 25 and May 9 for $5 off a Macy’s purchase of $15 or more.

Delaware State Parks interpretive staff is also helping out by presenting educational programs and answering questions about Delaware State Parks at each Delaware Macy’s store on April 25. Also on that day, the Turn Over a New Leaf pass serves as an all-day shopping coupon for 20 percent off most men's, women's, kids’ and accessories merchandise, and 10 percent off most home items, both at the Delaware stores and at Macy’s online stores.

Local Macy’s stores will donate the proceeds of this year’s pass sales to the Delaware Community Foundation’s James W. O’Neill Environmental Education Fund, which provides scholarships for middle school students and their teachers to participate in overnight environmental education field trips at Cape Henlopen State Park. Participating state park Friends’ groups will use the donations they receive from the sale of Turn Over a New Leaf passes to enhance their volunteer work at state parks throughout Delaware.