PROGRAM SUPPORT

METRO DETROIT LAKE ERIE HACK INNOVATION CHALLENGE

In 2019 Pure Oakland Water became the Title Sponsor for the Metro Detroit Lake Erie Hack Innovation Challenge - High School Level. The Erie Hack is a data and engineering competition designed to generate innovative technology solutions that address the Lake Erie Basin’s most pressing problems. Thousands of high school students from the area are invited to participate in this competition where researchers, designers, engineers, developers, and creatives serve as mentors and judges to these solution-oriented student participants.
To learn more visit: https://eriehack.io/

SCHOLARSHIPS & INTERNSHIPS

Supporting students who are studying in a water-related field is one of Pure Oakland Water’s top priorities. To do this we fund a program with the Clinton River Watershed Council, the Friends of the Rouge, and the Huron River Watershed Council. This program began in 2014 and offers to fully fund summer interns working in the fields of environmentally focused education, field water quality monitoring, and marketing programs. These interns also volunteer for multiple POW events a year, providing them with additional networking opportunities.

"My Friends of the Rouge internship had taught me so much about the larger community I had grown up in... [It] exemplified the importance of connecting to the people in the communities we serve and that anyone can get hands on in the community to make a difference. I am so grateful to Pure Oakland Water for funding my internship position that has brought wonderful opportunities and learning experiences." - Jackie Heikkila, POW Sponsored Intern with Friends of the Rouge, Summer 2019

Another way POW supports keeping students in water related fields learning and working in Michigan is by providing student scholarships at every college within
Oakland County that offers an environmental science or water resource based engineering program; Lawrence Technological University, Oakland University, and Rochester College. Since 2014 fifteen scholarships have been funded and many of these scholarship recipients have gone on to stay in Michigan and to work in this field after they’ve graduated.

WATER FESTIVALS

Every year POW sponsors the Rouge River Water Festival, the Clinton River Water Festival, and the Detroit River Water Festival, providing hands-on environmental education activities for over 3,800 kids and 600 teachers, chaperones, and presenters each year.

KIDS CLEAN WATER CALENDAR CONTEST

Since 2013, Pure Oakland Water has hosted five awards ceremonies for the winners of the Kids’ Clean Water Calendar Contest, a calendar that promotes conservation, water quality, and environmental stewardship. Out of approximately 700 yearly entries from fourth and fifth graders, representing over 20 schools in Oakland County, 12 of the best drawings are chosen to be featured in the calendar. The winning drawings are those that represent both artistic talent and a compelling and important environmental message. In addition to celebrating the children at the awards ceremony POW also distributes 5,500 calendars across Oakland County, with the back cover featuring the logos of POW’s top sponsors for the previous year.

2013-2017 PROGRAM SUCCESSES

LOOKING FORWARD

In 2018 we are creating a mini grants program to begin funding physical green infrastructure projects, education and outreach
In 2019 we will identify and finance initiatives that support environmental education for high school students
By 2020 we will have doubled the number of nonprofits and events we support and sponsor

OTHER ENVIRONMENTAL SUPPORT

We have also supported the following:

North Oakland Headwaters Land Conservancy
The Clinton River Watershed Council’s Crafts on the Clinton fundraiser, Zoo Walk fundraiser, and Annual Meeting
The Michigan League of Conservation Voters Education Fund
The Huron River Watershed Council’s Suds on the River fundraiser
The Friends of the Rouge Annual Rouge Cruise fundraiser and Rouge Rescue fundraiser
Local Earth Day festivals