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BKFK Announces Grand Prize Winner of the National Going
Green Challenge
Elizabeth Rintels, 12, of Keswick, VA wins $10,000 Grand Prize for her "Water
Watcher" invention
 Stamford,
CT (Aug. 14, 2008) – By Kids For Kids (BKFK) and The Weather Channel today
announced that Elizabeth Rintels, 12, of Keswick, Virginia, won the grand prize
in the national Going Green Challenge. Elizabeth won for her "Water Watcher"
invention, a smart device designed to monitor and measure water usage.
Realizing just how much water it took to take a shower, Elizabeth began seeking
a way to enhance awareness of water usage. After learning that reducing her
shower time only by one minute would save approximately 1,000 gallons of water
per year, she was driven to find a smarter way of utilizing this valuable
resource. As a result, Elizabeth created "The Water Watcher," a device that can
be fastened to any faucet. It signals a red light and sounds a beep every time a
half-gallon of water is used.
In addition to her $10,000 cash prize, Elizabeth also will also receive a
meaningful "connection to reality." She will have the opportunity to spend a day
"shadowing" one of the eco experts from Leonardo DiCaprio's 11th Hour Action
website, http://11thhouraction.com/.
The Going Green Challenge launched in October, 2007 and challenged America's
youth to create new eco-ideas for our changing planet. Thousands of entries
poured into the BKFK website, www.bkfk.com. Ed
Begley Jr., Hollywood's greenest actor, was a celebrity judge in the
competition.
 "I was thrilled when I found out I'd won the BKFK Going Green Challenge!" said
Elizabeth Rintels, "At home, we try to use things more than once and recycle at
the recycling center. We also try not to waste energy or water. It was this
conservation awareness in my home that inspired 'The Water Watcher.'"
"We are pleased to be connected with the BKFK program because it fits so
directly with our goal to help young people become more informed and aware of
the climate and environment. We congratulate the winner on her innovative idea
of monitoring and measuring water usage," said Shari Pace, vice president of
licensing, The Weather Channel.
Norman Goldstein, Founder and CEO of BKFK, commented: "I would like to
congratulate Elizabeth on her thoughtful, eco-friendly creation. It's very easy
to dream away in a hot shower, not caring about ones water usage. 'The Water
Watcher' elevates consciousness about water consumption, resulting in necessary
water conservation."
About By Kids For Kids Co.
By Kids for Kids® (BKFK®) is a youth marketing and media company partnering with
the world's leading corporations to provide a platform to foster, share,
showcase, and commercialize youth innovation and entrepreneurship. Their mission
is to inspire, motivate and stimulate the innovative spirit within all young
people.
The closely held Stamford, CT-based Corporation has been dedicated to making
youth ideas a reality since 2003. Through its website (www.bkfk.com) and its
social community (Idea Locker™), online competitions, TV show (Think Big™),
Magazine (Possible™), press, and education outreach, the company engages youth
in the US and around the world. BKFK® youth-created products are available
nationally and serve as a testament to the power of youth innovation and social
entrepreneurship.
More information about the company and its successes helping young innovators,
is available online at www.bkfk.com
About The Weather Channel
The Weather Channel®, the nation's leading provider of national, regional and
local weather information and programming, is a 24-hour weather network which
can be seen in over 96 million U.S. households. Its Web site,
weather.com , reaches more than 35 million
unique users per month and is consistently ranked #15 among all Web sites by
Nielsen//NetRatings. The Weather Channel also operates The Weather Channel HD,
Weatherscan® which is an all-local 24/7 cable network, The Weather Channel Radio
Network, The Weather Channel Newspaper Services, and is the leading weather
information provider for emerging technologies. The Weather Channel is owned by
Landmark Communications, Inc., a Norfolk, VA-based, privately held media
company.
Contact: Connie Malko (770) 226-2180,
cmalko@weather.com
Note to editors:
Elizabeth Rintels is 12 year old middle schooler from Keswick, VA. Elizabeth is
interested in art, clothing design, interior designing and inventing. She also
likes to play sports. In the future, Elizabeth might be a designer, inventor or
athlete. In addition to winning the grand prize of the BKFK Going Green
Challenge, Elizabeth won first place in the BKFK Virginia Challenge, also for
the "Water Watcher" and she also took 3rd prize in that same competition for her
"Crane purse," which is a fashionable purse inspired by paper cranes.
Media Contact: John Forrester
323-702-3684
media@bkfk.com
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