Teen Needs Your Votes for Hydration Stations at Framingham High

Earlier this year, Framingham High senior Matt D’Amico submitted a citizen petition to Framingham Town Meeting to ban the sale of non-sparkling, single-use bottles of water made of the chemical PET.

Town Meeting members rejected the idea, but that has not stopped D’Amico from trying to reduce the amount of single-use water bottles. Now, his focus is at Framingham High.

He has launched a “Framingham DROP the Bottle campaign.”

Inspired by his AP Environmental Science class to find a way to decrease plastic and water waste and improve public water infrastructure in his community, he now is hoping to win a bgood Family Foundation grant to install two hydration stations: water fountains retrofitted with a second tap to increase the convenience of reusable water bottles and eliminate the need for disposable plastic bottles, often tossed immediately after use.

If installed, these fountains would decrease Framingham High’s plastic footprint, encourage students to choose water over sugary beverages, and set a positive example of environmental stewardship throughout the community.

He’s got permission from school administrators, and now he needs the community’s help to vote for his project.

His project is one of three finalists being considered by the Foundation.

The other two are an art project in Boston and a bicycle kitchen in the Merrimack Valley.

To vote for his project visit: http://www.bgoodfamilyfoundation.com/vote-for-our-grant-recipient/

The cost of the grant would be $4,000.

Since the spring of 2013 the b.good family foundation has awarded micro-grants to help inspired individuals improve their communities.

The Foundation believes in a “world where civic engagement is common and communities have the resources they need to address the issues they see as priorities.”

Grant finalists are selected by the Foundation’s Board of Directors, but final funding decisions are based on a community vote by the b.good family and its network.

The Foundation’s mission is “to help real people with great ideas do good.”