Recognized by US President Barack Obama as one of the six most outstanding college reparatory schools in the nation, the Environmental Charter Schools celebrated its 10th anniversary with the “Rethink: Green Charity Gala” inviting eco-minded celebrities, artists, and community leaders to collaborate on ways to a more sustainable future.

Alison Diaz – Founder of Environmental Charter Schools : So 10 years later we have a beautiful thing happening, and we’re in a much better place, and the kids are learning incredible things, and we have a huge staff that is inspirational, and the students are really their own super heroes because they really are coming up with the solutions.

We have a lot of features on campus of sustainable building, and one of them is our bike shop, where the students teach other students how to fix bikes. Another one is our river, and so they worked with permaculture experts. And so when they do the tour and they talk about what they’ve done to change their campus, that impresses me.

VOICE: The event raised funds for the national launch of the Los Angeles-based Environmental Charter High School’s Green Ambassadors Institute in 2011, which will help students, most of whom are disadvantaged, toward the further realization of constructive changes in their communities.

Supreme Master TV: Why do you want to support the Environmental Charter Schools?

Lisa Ling, Journalist, TV host and correspondent for National Geographic Explorer, the Oprah Winfrey Show, and CNN : Well, I think that they are extraordinary schools and really on the forefront of equipping kids to take on jobs of the future, green jobs. And I really admire their forward thinking and tremendous feats.
There are so many things that we can do and what I love is ECS is really equipping kids to be the leaders and to teach all of us.

VOICE: Los Angeles-based celebrities also came to show their support as role models doing their own part to live consciously and considerately for the planet.

Gina Rodriguez – Actress, vegetarian : I have just heard about this charity, “Rethink Green,” and I think it’s brilliant. I was raised with the same concept of recycling, and taking care of our Earth from a really, really young girl, so I think it’s important we do that in the schools. I’m a vegetarian.

Jill Michele Meleán – Actress, comedienne, vegetarian : I’m vegetarian. When I read stuff, when I finally read it, it got into my brain, finally, and my imagination is so wild that I was like, “Oh!” and I had these stamping imprints, and the energy, that’s what really got me too,is seeing these tortured animals and taking on their energy. And I’m like,I’m done, I’m done.

VOICE: Our accolades, Environmental Charter Schools, on 10 years of shaping green and caring young leaders, and thanks to all involved for supporting causes for the planet through both public and personal actions. May we all do our part and Be Veg, Go Green 2 Save the Planet! 

Gina Rodriguez – Actress, vegetarian (F): I’m Gina Rodriguez, Be Veg, Go Green 2 Save the Planet!