Monday, February 13, 2006
Citizen of the Year: Herb Yip
For our first ever Citizen of the Year, we chose Herb Yip, the River City High School Volunteer Parent Recycle Coordinator. Herb is in local law enforcement, but spends a great deal of time raising money for school related programs and scholarship. There were many nominees for this honor, but our group of Tony, Andy, and Rick decided on Herb. Often times you will see Herb on the side of the road picking up cans, bottles and other recyclables. He then takes the money made from his collection and puts it right back into the program. The following is a excerpts from a list of accomplisments of Herb Yip.
Rtver City High School cans and bottles recycle program consist of a small group of dedicated parent volunteers. We started collecting cans and bottles for the students on July 2003. Over the past two years, $12,086.35 have been generated (2003-2004 $5,354.65; 2004-2005 $6,189.49). Of this amount, approximately $60.00 (in kind donation) consisting of loose change or paper currency have been found on the school grounds while recycling. 100% of the monies minus any overhead expenses goes back to the students or to the West Sacramento community (Sylvia Negrete donation, a student that acquired a health problem during 2004). As of April 2005, for accounting and tax purposes, me River City High School Recycle Program is now under the umbrella of the Collings West Sacramento Teen Center.
$500.00 Scholarships have been awarded to graduating seniors at River City High School (5 Uolirships-June 2004; 6 scholarships-June 2005). The Recycle Program scholarships are open to all seniorWudents at River City High School who plan to attend college. Main requirements: Must maintain a "C" average and write a 500 word essay about a topic on "How Recycling effects you and others in our environment?" Total of $5,500.00 have been awarded.
As an incentive to recycle cans and bottles, at or near the end of each school year, each student class level (Freshmen, Sophomore, Junior, and Senior) have received monies from the Recycle fund. A total of $3,500.00 have been distributed back to the Associated Student Body. The students in Leadership and (heir advisor decide how, when, and where the monies are spent Some have decided to save monies until they reach their Senior year and other classes have used the monies towards prom night
$500.00 was utilized to help fund a picnic awarded to the Sophomore Class in 2004 for scoring highest on "Academic Achievement*1 amongst their peers.
Other monies from the Recycle Program have funded raffle prizes for the graduating Seniors who attend the Collings West Sacramento Teen Center's Safe and Sober Senior Grad Night. Approximately $900.00 have been used to purchase televisions, stereo players, Am-Fm CD players, VCR-DVD players, cordless telephones, DVD players, movie tickets, smoothie maker machines, Nintendo game cube, etc.
Everything in the cans and bottles program is self-funding. Labor and transportation to move the cans/bottles for the program is donated free. Through my contacts with the City of West Sacramento and the community at large, this program has been a successful one on and off the school campus. Bottles and cans have been collected at the following sites: Memorial Park during the Little League Season, City sponsor events at the Jr. NBA basketball games, the Jr. Raiders football games, die Dolphins swim meets, Chamber of Commerce Bridgefest fireworks show, the Police-Fire Gala, Turner Branch Library, events at the Collings West Sacramento Teen Center, State offices, several household donations, all campus sports or activities, etc. The Recycle Program fulfills the students need for "Community SefvlceT' Hours and days are flexible. It's all about being involved, helping students, saving the environment, and making a difference in our community.
# posted by Armando Omega @ 10:28 AM 
