Mercy Hospital Sponsors Nation’s First EcoZone™ To Address Environmental Challenges
Miami, FL (June 28, 2007) - Mercy Hospital, nationally recognized for its commitment to clinical excellence and patient satisfaction, recently announced that they are one of the local top tier sponsors of EcoZone™, an exclusive public/private partnership designed to create solutions that can measurably improve the local environment – at no cost to taxpayers. A unique program which will positively impact the City of Miami’s most critical environmental challenges, EcoZone™ will fund important technologies and solutions to visibly improve the areas of air, water, energy and greenspace.
Mayor Manny Diaz worked with EcoMedia to bring the EcoZone™ program to Miami as part of his “Green Initiative.” Miami is the state of Florida’s first and flagship city to implement the EcoZone™ program and Mercy Hospital is the first hospital in the city to sponsor the program. EcoZone™ uses generated sponsorship dollars to address environmental challenges and issues and has launched a nationwide educational campaign that will relay environmental messages through different media outlets, including cable television and radio PSAs, grassroot environmental campaigns, branded merchandise, local community events and online media. The EcoZone™ initiative is funded solely through corporate sponsorships and creates an opportunity to cultivate partnerships among public and private entities that result in positive economic education and growth.
“EcoZone™ gives us the opportunity to put our values into action,” said John Matuska, president and CEO of Mercy Hospital. “We are pleased that our sponsorship funds critical environmental and clean energy projects that protect our community’s quality of life now and for future generations.”
Educational outdoor signage featuring eco-friendly tips, such as recycle, turn lights off when not in use, avoid littering and other environmental messages, will be posted throughout the district going to fund the area’s pre-determined environmental and clean energy projects. EcoZone™ funds will support the city’s newest projects, including:
- Miami’s Baywash Program to remove derelict vessels from the bay.
- Miami’s green canopy project which will see new trees being planted throughout the city.
- Miami’s Green Lab Project which will transform an unused fire station into a green resource center.
- Solar panels on Miami’s City Hall building.
“Nationally embraced as an innovative and effective campaign, EcoZone™ will be extremely beneficial to the city of Miami and Mercy Hospital is proud to help bring this program to the city,” said Mr. Matuska.
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Mercy Hospital, a recipient of the prestigious Magnet™ award for nursing excellence, is Miami-Dade’s only Catholic Hospital. Established in 1950, it is sponsored by the Sisters of St. Joseph and a member of Catholic Health East. A 483-bed acute care hospital, staffed by over 700 physicians representing 27 medical specialties, its Centers of Excellence include: The Heart Center at Mercy Hospital, the Miami Cancer Center at Mercy Hospital, the Orthopaedic Institute at Mercy Hospital, and the Minimally Invasive Surgical Institute at Mercy Hospital. Mercy Hospital is located at 3663 S. Miami Avenue, Miami, FL.
For more information contact:
Arianne Rey
(305) 860-4634
