Santa Monica's Sustainable Quality Award Winners Announced

By Lookout Staff

March 23, 2018 -- A small independent elementary school, a coffee shop, a dance school and a church, are the winners of Santa Monica's 2018 Sustainable Quality Award Grand Prizes, award officials announced Thursday.

The 22nd annual awards -- which are sponsored by the City, the Chamber of Commerce and Sustainable Works -- recognize local businesses that "demonstrate excellence in helping Santa Monica continue to move toward a more sustainable future," officials said.

The awards will be presented April 26th during a luncheon event at Le Meridien Delfina Santa Monica Hotel in the Penthouse Ballroom.

This year's grand prize went to PS1 Pluralistic School, a non-profit, non-graded elementary school currently serving 230 students established in 1971.

"Social Responsibility, Environmental Awareness and Stewardship are among the core values inherent in PS1’s mission and curriculum," award officials said. "They believe the purpose of an elementary school is to uncover the genius within each child."

This is the fourth time the school has won a Santa Monica Sustainability award and the second time it takes the top prize.

“As a member of the Santa Monica community for the past 47 years, PS1 Pluralistic School is proud to be part of the city’s efforts to lead the way in this critical issue for our nation," said Joel Pelcyger, who heads the school.

The Excellence in Social Responsibility Award winners are the Arthur Murray Dance Center and Global Green.

Arthur Murry "provides instruction in all styles of social and competitive ballroom dancing through personal sessions, group classes and practice sessions."

Global Green "creates catalytic projects to serve as models for helping create sustainable communities and identifies policy and financial solutions to bring them to scale," officials said.

The winners of the awards for Excellence in Economic Development and Stewardship of the Environment are Groundwork Coffee LLC and the Unitarian Universalist Community Church of Santa Monica.

Groundwork Coffee LLC is "a certified coffee roaster since 1990 that sells organic coffee, organic teas and home brewing merchandise" that "installed over 100 high-efficiency solar panels at the company’s roasting facility," award officials said.

The Unitarian Universalist Community Church of Santa Monica "offers spiritual development as well as a community center offering rental spaces for a variety of programs from recovery to meditation," officials said.

Tickets can be purchased online at www.smsqa.com or by calling (310) 393-9825.

Pre-paid tickets are $60 for Chamber members and $70 for non-members. For more information visit www.smsqa.com