STUDENTS SHARE TOP PRIZE IN FLORIDA CATHOLIC CONFERENCE'S
"CARING FOR GOD'S CREATION" CONTEST

                                                                            

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 4, 2002
Contact:  Patricia M. Chivers
Associate for Social Concerns
(850) 222-3803
E-mail:  pchivers@flacathconf.org

Tallahassee, FL – The Florida Catholic Conference has announced two winners in its "Caring for God’s Creation Contest. The contest was held to find a name and logo for the Conference’s recently awarded environmental justice grant. Anne DelBovo, an eighth-grade student at Resurrection Catholic School in the Diocese of Orlando submitted the winning logo, and Laura Davis, a 12th-grade student at Academy of Holy Name in the Diocese of St. Petersburg submitted the winning name. DelBovo’s entry, a picture of an outstretched hand holding a tree, will comprise the logo, which will also include the words, "We Hold the Future of the World in Our Hands." Davis’s entry, "Preserving Our Inheritance Project," will be shortened to "Inheritance Project," and be used as the name of the grant.

"The judges decided that Anna’s logo entry and Laura’s name entry fit together perfectly," said Almira Malley, Project Director. "The logo symbolizes God’s hand giving us the Tree of Life, and presents us with a basic truth; that the future of the environment lies with us, and that we are all affected by our lack of care for its resources. The name ‘Inheritance Project’ highlights the fact that the environment is given to us by God as our inheritance, and we must protect it as such."

The "Caring for God’s Creation" contest was open to all Catholic middle- and high school students. More than 530 entries were received from 27 schools around the state. The judging panel consisted of 3 members: Sr. Terri Bretthauer, MSBT, Co-Cathedral of St. Thomas More, Cheryl McCarron, Professor of English at Tallahassee Community College, and Almira Malley, initial Project Director.

The Florida Catholic Conference, in partnership with the Diocese of Orlando, was awarded a $50,000 grant by the Environmental Justice Program of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. The grant will fund activities to increase awareness among Catholics in Florida about water quality issues and environmental stewardship. Its activities will focus on the way these issues affect the quality of life for all Floridians, particularly the poor.