Trailblazer Award - St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church, Tucker

The 2012 Trailblazer GIPPY Winner was St. Andrews Presbyterian Church, Tucker (and also First Christian Church of Decatur).St. Andrews Presbyterian church was innovative in its sustainability efforts this past year. What struck a chord with us was their effort of making their annual foot race, called Race 4 Grace , a Green Event through Athletes for a Fit Planet. They made a pledge of sustainability which required them to reduce paper waste by having at least 80% of pre-race registrations completed online, providing recycling & compost bins at the event, providing public transportation to the race, offering a clothing and a shoe recycling/reuse program, and hosting environmental education at the race (provided by GIPL). The church even donated leftover food to a local shelter, and had volunteers that staffed all of the dedicated environmental opportunities.  The congregation has demonstrated an organized, thoughtful and well-documented commitment to creation care for several years under the leadership of folks like Susan Phillips & Mary Evans – but they also have a mighty group of women on their committee who, frankly, just get it done. The majority of this church’s sustainability efforts are led by dedicated laity who incorporate these values of stewardship into their daily life of faith.