NEW YORK – Origins, a brand committed to promoting beauty and wellness through natural products, named New York City teacher Gioya DeSouza-Fennelly the winner of their “What Makes You Eco-Fabulous?™” campaign. The campaign invited the environmentally-conscious consumer to submit video, blogs or images describing how they embrace an organic and natural lifestyle. After reviewing hundreds of applicants, Origins representatives selected the Bronx, NY resident for her overwhelming dedication to environmental initiatives. “Origins has always celebrated the connection between Mother Nature and Human Nature and this campaign gave us a unique opportunity to see how our consumers also live by these principles,” said Kay Su, director, Origins Online Marketing. “We had a lot of amazing entries, but Gioya DeSouza-Fennelly’s story stood out. In addition to living ‘green' day-to-day in her personal life, she also educates and inspires upcoming generations to be eco-conscious.”
DeSouza-Fennelly took interest in the global environment while growing up in Goa, India. After moving to the United States, she received her M.S. in Biophysical Chemistry from Fordham University and became a science educator with the New York City Department of Education; she currently teaches at Intermediate School 143 in the Washington Heights community of Northern Manhattan (IS 143). In an effort to cultivate a new generation of "eco-techies," a term DeSouza-Fennelly uses to describe her passion, she also obtained certification as a Horticultural Therapist and Landscape Designer at the New York Botanical Gardens. This has helped her to strengthen the integration of environmental education into her science curriculum. With this experience she pioneered the development of the Penny Harvest Garden, a handicapped-accessible organic school garden funded by donations, and the Junior Master Gardener Program, which engages students in service-learning projects at school and in the local community. “I know as individuals we can make a difference, but I am fortunate to have a captive audience of 120 students each year who if instilled with the responsibility of being stewards of this planet, will go out and make positive choices as adults,” said DeSouza-Fennelly. The students in DeSouza-Fennelly’s class are immersed in environmental awareness. “All project-based learning incorporates only recycled materials and every aspect of the curriculum is linked to real-life practices,” said DeSouza-Fennelly. “Students learn about indoor and outdoor pollutants, how to test the air quality in their community and organic gardening. Most importantly each student is required to design ‘The Perfect Planet’ which would be their legacy for the next generation. This project gives students the opportunity to educate their families and communities in earth-friendly practices.”
DeSouza-Fennelly is now working on raising funds to build a rooftop “Living Lab” greenhouse powered by alternate clean energy on top of IS 143. This would allow students to learn sustainability and real-life “green skills” while addressing all the National Science Standards. For her dedication to environmental initiatives and education DeSouza-Fennelly was awarded a four night stay, including airfare and breakfast, for two at Hotel Terra Jackson Hole in Teton Village, WY. The exclusive resort is renowned for its commitment to luxury as well as sustainability. In addition to the stay at Hotel Terra Jackson Hole, she also received a bevy of organic goodies including the entire line of Origins Organics™,the first full line of prestige skin, body and hair care products certified under USDA NOP standards, fine organic cotton bed linens from LOOP Organics and more! “My children got me hooked on Origins years ago and now I’m an avid shopper,” said DeSouza-Fennelly. “It’s an honor to be acknowledged by a brand that I’ve always admired for their wonderful products and their continued commitment to the preservation of earth, animal and environment.”
About Origins
Our mission at Origins is to promote beauty and wellness through good-for-you products and feel-good experiences. We do this by celebrating the connection between Mother Nature and Human Nature. Introduced in the United States in 1990, Origins launched internationally in 1991. It is currently sold in more than 30 countries and territories including the United Kingdom, Ireland, Canada, France, Spain, Austria, Germany, Switzerland, Norway, Denmark, Sweden, Greece, Japan, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Thailand, Singapore, Malaysia, Korea, Australia, New Zealand and the Philippines.
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Origins has some of my favorite subtle eye shadow products with their Underwear for Lids line. I love Gold Dust and Pink Frosting. They're great to wear under eye shadow or on their own.
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