WITF, PA Parks and Forests Foundation and Earth Day 50 celebrate the 50th anniversary of Earth Day
Free screening and panel discussion with conservation experts
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Harrisburg, PA, (April 20, 2020) – April 22 marks the 50th Anniversary of Earth Day. In honor of the anniversary, WITF has partnered with PA Parks & Forests Foundation (PPFF) and Earth Day 50 PA to host a virtual celebration. To engage the Central Pennsylvania community and beyond, all are invited to attend an online screening of the WITF original documentary Penn’s Woods: Cradle of Conservation followed by an expert panel discussion this Wednesday, April 22 at 7pm.
“WITF is excited to partner with PA Parks & Forests Foundation and the Earth Day 50 PA initiative,” said WITF Director of Community Engagement Heather Woolridge. “This important anniversary provides a great opportunity to honor the conservation heroes who’ve helped protect our resources.”
The free screening will be viewed on OVEE, a shared media viewing experience platform. After the screening, PPFF President Marci Mowery will moderate a Q&A session with PA Department of Conservation & Natural Resources Secretary Cindy Adams Dunn, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Historian Mark Madison and Executive Director of Allegheny County Parks Foundation Caren Glofelty.
“Pennsylvania has a rich legacy of conservation and understanding that legacy plays an important role in making informed decisions for our future,” said Marci Mowery, PPFF President. “As we celebrate this 50th anniversary of Earth Day, what better time to celebrate our conservation legacy. We are excited to partner with WITF to bring this watch party and panel discussion to viewers from across the state, nation, and world.”
The WITF original documentary Penn’s Woods: Cradle of Conservation takes a historic look at how Pennsylvania’s natural resources helped transform the state into an industrial powerhouse. With economic booms and revolutions in natural resource extraction, came an environmental price. Pennsylvanians set about restoring the state’s environmental riches and in the process helped shape the national conservation and environmental movements of the twentieth century.
To RSVP for this interactive event and learn more about the panelists, visit WITF’s event page on OVEE.
About WITF
WITF is a trusted provider of public media news and programming for approximately 2.3 million citizens in 19 counties of Central Pennsylvania, encouraging children and adults to Live Inspired®. A member station of PBS and NPR, WITF’s media services include public television (WITF TV and WITFK PBS KIDS 24/7), public radio (WITF 89.5 & 93.3), websites (including witf.org, TransformingHealth.org, PaPost.org, Stateimpact.npr.org, and ExplorePAhistory.com), and a production services division (Media Solutions). WITF’s mission is to strengthen our communities by connecting us to each other and to opportunities for lifelong learning. WITF engages minds and enriches lives. For more information, visit witf.org.
About the Pennsylvania Parks and Forests Foundation
Founded in 1999, the Pennsylvania Parks and Forests Foundation supports 121 state parks and 2.2 million acres of forest by coordinating volunteers, activities and donations through its more than 40 chapters. The mission of the foundation is to inspire stewardship of Pennsylvania’s state parks and forests through public engagement in volunteerism, recreation and conservation. paparksandforests.org @PaPFF
About Earth Day 50 PA
The Pennsylvania Parks and Forests Foundation (PPFF) has created a website centered on the 50th Anniversary of Earth Day in Pennsylvania: www.EarthDay50PA.org. The site will host a calendar tracking events and activities happening across Pennsylvania in honor of the 50th Anniversary of Earth Day. In addition, there will be information about sustainable living and the impact of climate change on our environment. PPFF has partnered with many state departments and privately owned organizations and businesses to collaborate on awareness of Earth Day 50 and encourage participation across the state. The website will be a resource for all to get involved with Earth Day not just in April but all year long.
Press Contacts:
Erica Koup, Communications Specialist WITF
717-554-5983
Erica_koup@witf.org
Marci J. Mowery, President Pennsylvania Parks and Forests Foundation
717-236-7644
mmowery-ppff@pa.net
