GEF in the news
From Houston City Hall to Estadio Azteca, reporters, broadcasters and partners have covered how a nonprofit founded by Charlene Nijmeh with former Muwekma Ohlone Tribal leaders turns old shipping containers into solar-powered donation stations. Here is that coverage in one place, and every story links to the original.
- 21stories & announcements
- 18outlets & partners
- 3languages
- 2016–2025years covered
Photo: Sharon Mollerus, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons, cropped
- As covered by
- Community Impact
- TUDN
- Las Estrellas
- KSAT 12
- LebTown
- News from Native California
- California Apparel News
- PR Newswire
- Posta Deportes
- KXXV 25
- Club América
- VTA
Stories worth reading
Each card opens the original article on the publisher’s site.
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Houston City Council passes amendment regulating donation stations in city limits
Houston amended its donation-box ordinance to cover larger solar-powered, camera-monitored “donation stations.” Vice Mayor Pro-Tem Martha Castex-Tatum credited a tour of GEF’s stations; CM Abbie Kamin praised the partnership.
“I'm very impressed with these donation stations. They have cameras installed for 24-hour monitoring.”Vice Mayor Pro-Tem Martha Castex-Tatum
Read on Community Impact
América y Fundación Televisa instalan contenedor de Tenis con Alas en Houston
“Los puntos de recolección de Tenis con Alas no son contenedores comunes.”TUDN
Read on TUDN
Nuestras Alas inaugura primer contenedor permanente de ‘Tenis con Alas’ en Estados Unidos
“We all live together on this planet—there are no borders—and the impact we make in our space affects everyone around us.”Charlene Nijmeh, Founder & CEO, GEF
Read on Club América
Green Education Foundation’s donation station at Lebanon Valley Mall — sustainability in action
“As a tribe, we want to encourage sustainability — to reuse what we have.”Charlene Nijmeh
Read on LebTown
Here’s how to use less plastic in your daily life
“The Green Education Foundation is offering some simple ways we can use less plastic in our daily lives -- beyond straws and bags.”KSAT 12
Read on KSAT 12
New Neighborhood Donation Recycling Stations at VTA locations
“has partnered with Green Education Foundation nonprofit to introduce Neighborhood Donation Recycling Stations (NDRS) at four VTA locations in San Jose.”VTA
Read on VTA
“Nuestras Alas”: Club América y Fundación Televisa presentan su nuevo programa
““Tenis con Alas” es una iniciativa en conjunto con la Green Education Foundation”Las Estrellas
Read on Las Estrellas
“Makkin Mak Nommo. We Are Still Here.”
“She eventually founded the Green Education Foundation, which today diverts over 60 million pounds of textile waste from landfills”News from Native California
Read on News from Native California
Azazie, Leading Online Retailer Continues Partnership with Green Education Foundation to Pave the Way Towards a More Sustainable Green Future
“we are thrilled with the work and accomplishments we've achieved through our partnership with Green Education Foundation”Jeff Cardoso, VP of Operations, Azazie
Read on PR Newswire
Inside the Industry (Azazie partners with Green Education Foundation)
“Azazie will donate any end-of-life dresses and accessories to the recycling program.”California Apparel News
Read on California Apparel News
What they said
I'm very impressed with these donation stations. They have cameras installed for 24-hour monitoring.
We all live together on this planet—there are no borders—and the impact we make in our space affects everyone around us.
As a tribe, we want to encourage sustainability — to reuse what we have.
On screen
A KSAT 12 segment built on GEF’s tips, plus two films from GEF’s own channel. Videos load only when you press play.
Coverage timeline
News, broadcasts, press releases, partner and government announcements, including Spanish- and Turkish-language coverage. Filter by year or type.
2025
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Club AméricaPartner/Government
Tenis con Alas (official program page)
Club América’s standing program page describes Tenis con Alas as an initiative “en alianza con Green Education Foundation (GEF)” and lists U.S. stations in Fair Oaks CA, Eatontown NJ and Mechanicsburg PA.
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Club AméricaPartner/Government
Nuestras Alas inaugura primer contenedor permanente de ‘Tenis con Alas’ en Estados Unidos
Club América’s official announcement (Spanish and English) of the first permanent U.S. Tenis con Alas station in Houston, “de la mano de Green Education Foundation,” with quotes from Fundación Televisa’s Alicia Lebrija and Charlene Nijmeh.
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Posta DeportesEn Español
América inaugura contenedor de tenis permanente en Estados Unidos
Mexican sports outlet covers the Houston Tenis con Alas container at Soccer Post, run with GEF, as part of Club América’s U.S. expansion.
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TUDNEn Español
América y Fundación Televisa instalan contenedor de Tenis con Alas en Houston
TelevisaUnivision’s sports network reports the first permanent Tenis con Alas container in the U.S., opened in Houston with Soccer Post and GEF, with plans for 30+ containers nationwide.
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News from Native CaliforniaNews
“Makkin Mak Nommo. We Are Still Here.”
A feature on the Muwekma Ohlone people recounts how Charlene Nijmeh worked with the Salvation Army, Goodwill and faith groups to recycle textiles fouling tribal waterways before founding GEF.
2023
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Las EstrellasEn Español
“Nuestras Alas”: Club América y Fundación Televisa presentan su nuevo programa
Televisa’s entertainment network covers the launch of Club América’s social-responsibility program, naming Tenis con Alas as a joint initiative with GEF to collect and recycle sneakers and textiles.
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Club AméricaEn Español
Tenis con Alas en el Azteca
Club América announced sneaker-donation containers at Coapa and Estadio Azteca, installed with Fundación Televisa and GEF, debuting at América Femenil vs. Barcelona.
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AzaziePartner/Government
Azazie Continues Partnership with Green Education Foundation to Pave the Way Towards a More Sustainable Green Future
Azazie’s own blog version of its 2023 partnership announcement with GEF.
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PR NewswirePress Release
Azazie, Leading Online Retailer Continues Partnership with Green Education Foundation to Pave the Way Towards a More Sustainable Green Future
Bridal retailer Azazie reported 57,690 lbs of textiles diverted through GEF’s Closed Loop Recycling Program since 2022, 70% of it reused.
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Amerika GazetesiNews
ABD’de Kızılderililer Türkiye’deki Depremzedeler İçin Yardım Topladı
Turkish-American news site covers the Muwekma Ohlone relief convoy to Adıyaman led by Charlene Nijmeh, “Yeşil Eğitim Vakfı’nın da kurucusu.”
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The San Francisco InquirerNews
Muwekma Ohlone chairwoman delivers relief supplies to earthquake-stricken region of Turkey
Reports from Türkiye as Charlene Nijmeh, “the founder and chairwoman of the Green Education Foundation,” distributes clothing, blankets and relief supplies in earthquake-stricken regions, with a short Q&A.
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Serbest GörüşNews
Kızılderililerden Adıyaman’daki Depremzedelere Yardım
Turkish-language report (Diyarbakır dateline) on Charlene Nijmeh delivering a truckload of clothing and food to earthquake survivors in Adıyaman; identifies her as founder of GEF (“Yeşil Eğitim Vakfı”).
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The San Francisco InquirerNews
Bay Area businesswoman to lead humanitarian aid mission to Turkey
Announces Charlene Nijmeh’s planned relief mission to deliver food, supplies and blankets to towns hit by the Türkiye earthquake, and recalls her 300,000 pounds of relief goods for Ukraine.
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Community ImpactNews
Houston City Council passes amendment regulating donation stations in city limits
Houston amended its donation-box ordinance to cover larger solar-powered, camera-monitored “donation stations.” Vice Mayor Pro-Tem Martha Castex-Tatum credited a tour of GEF’s stations; CM Abbie Kamin praised the partnership.
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City of Houston / HTV (via GEF YouTube)Partner/Government
Houston City Council Passes Recycling Station Ordinance
Before Council approved Houston’s donation-station ordinance, Vice Mayor Pro Tem Martha Castex-Tatum said she toured GEF’s stations and was “very impressed”; Council Members Abbie Kamin and Robert Gallegos praised the effort and the partnership.
2022
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VTA (Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority)Partner/Government
New Neighborhood Donation Recycling Stations at VTA locations
The transit agency announced GEF stations at its Milpitas, Almaden, Santa Teresa and Snell stations in San Jose, plus two in Santa Clara.
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California Apparel NewsNews
Inside the Industry (Azazie partners with Green Education Foundation)
The apparel trade paper reported Azazie’s new partnership with GEF’s closed-loop recycling program for unused dresses and accessories.
2021
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LebTownNews
Green Education Foundation’s donation station at Lebanon Valley Mall — sustainability in action
A feature on the solar-powered NDRS at Lebanon Valley Mall (PA), with Charlene Nijmeh explaining how donations are pre-sorted, resold or recycled into fiber.
2020
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KSAT 12TV/Video
Here’s how to use less plastic in your daily life
San Antonio’s ABC affiliate ran a segment and article built on GEF’s tips for cutting everyday plastic, from lighters to razors.
2017
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KXXV 25 (Waco)News
City considers regulating or banning unattended drop off donation boxes
As Waco weighed regulating or banning donation boxes over illegal dumping, GEF said it would comply with any permit but opposed a ban, pointing to its 24-hour monitored container.
2016
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City of Palm Desert Planning CommissionPartner/Government
Minutes: CUP 16-011, donation recycling station at Westfield Palm Desert (approved 4–0)
The commission approved GEF’s station in the Westfield parking lot 4–0. Charlene Nijmeh testified that proceeds would support Palm Desert schools.
No stories match those filters.
Our own announcements
Station spotlights and partnership news published by GEF.
- Houston City Council Passes Recycling Station Ordinance allowing NDRS within Districts2023
- Green Education Foundation, Club America, and Fundación Televisa Launch Sports Recycling Partnership in MexicoAug 2023
- Tenis Con Alas – Multinational Sports Recycling Partnership Comes to Los Angeles for El Clásico de México 2023Oct 2023
- Revolutionizing Sustainability: NDRS Debuts at the Cotton Bowl Stadium for FC Barcelona vs. Club America MatchDec 2023
- Club America takes on Environmental Initiatives – Brings Sneaker Recycling to SoFi Stadium2024
- Club América Introduces NDRS at Youth TournamentMay 2024
- Laughlin Air Force Base Trailblazes Environmental Sustainability – First Military Base to Adopt NDRS2024
- Green Education Foundation is Partnering with Local Cities Like Marina, California to Tackle Textile Waste Problem2024
- Turkey Earthquake Crisis brings Nijmeh to Lead International Humanitarian Relief TourMar 2023
- Westhope Presbyterian Church Brings Textile Recycling to Saratoga Community2024
- Last Minute Spring Cleaning? Recycle Your Old Clothes at The Domain!2024
- Earth Day 2024: Textile Recycling and Sustainability in HoustonApr 2024
Covering textile reuse, Tenis con Alas, or donation stations in your city?
We can arrange interviews with Chairwoman Charlene Nijmeh, station visits, and data on what your community has diverted from landfill.
Contact our teamComing soon
- Fact sheet & boilerplate
- High-resolution photos of NDRS stations
- Logo files & brand colors
- Leadership bios and headshots
- B-roll of stations and sorting
Outlet names are shown as text for identification only. Trademarks belong to their owners. Links open the original publisher’s site, and GEF isn’t responsible for third-party content.