Oakwood is proud to sponsor National Wildlife Federation (NWF) and their Climate Classroom Kids website which has been designed to help kids learn more about wildlife and climate change in a fun way. The site is also provides classroom materials and resources for educators, parents and other youth leaders. Wildlife images featured on Climate Classroom kids were taken by Oakwood's Chairman Howard Ruby. For his efforts, Mr. Ruby was named the 2007 Conservation Photographer of the Year by NWF. He is passionate about using his photos in creative ways to teach children and adults about the effects of climate change and he has been the driving force behind the creative development of the new and improved Climate Classroom Kids website. Oakwood Associates have also supported this program by volunteering in classrooms across the US to help teach students about climate change using the Climate Classroom Kids educational outreach volunteer activities.

Oakwood was founded in 1960 by Howard Ruby, Chairman of Oakwood Worldwide. A passionate photographer, Mr. Ruby's adventures have taken him on numerous trips to the Arctic to photograph this dramatic area and the amazing polar bears and cubs that live there. After witnessing the effects of global warming first-hand and seeing the polar bears' plight, he was moved to create the Oakwood Green Initiative to educate and inspire action. The initiative functions through three parallel programs, each targeted to key segments of the organization and beyond.

Believing that successful global businesses must also be good corporate citizens, Oakwood is making an initial $2 million investment to reduce the company's production of greenhouse gases by 35 percent in 7 years.

Oakwood is a proud sponsor of National Wildlife Federation's Climate Classroom Kids program, designed to raise public awareness of the threat of global warming, and is giving associates opportunities to make a real difference through educational outreach.

Oakwood Associates continue to volunteer in local elementary schools across the country by showing DVD slideshows of polar bears and the Arctic, and by distributing "Polar Cards" to students.

Oakwood is also appealing to guests to conserve energy. Calendars and postcards are being placed in Oakwood apartments to educate guests about global warming and encourage them to follow six simple steps to reduce energy and water consumption during their stay. Oakwood estimates that if 10 percent of its guests reduce their energy and water use by five percent, carbon dioxide and greenhouse gas emissions will be reduced by more than one million pounds per year.

If you would like to learn more about our efforts to combat global warming, please contact your Oakwood representative or email us at green@oakwood.com