Backgrounder

Like millions of other parents, on Halloween 2006, Corey Colwell-Lipson, mother of two girls, took them trick-or-treating. While most of the neighborhood handed out the requisite candy, a few homes placed non-candy treats like bubbles and stickers in her girls' pumpkins. She was thrilled that someone thought outside the candy-box, and made a note to herself to remember to trick-or-treat at these homes the following year.

But after winding through several streets in the dark, she had already forgotten which homes were candy-free. She mentioned to another parent, "Wouldn't it be great if there were a sign you could place on your door or window that notified trick-or-treaters that their upcoming treat would be healthy?" This way, parents could seek out those homes and turn trick-or-treating into a scavenger hunt � a hunt for treasures rather than treats.

Colwell-Lipson began thinking about Halloween as a whole and about how it is hard to find treats that are child healthy. Some parents she knew spend weeks researching where to find affordable, kid-friendly, and for some, Earth-friendly treats. But most parents, Colwell-Lipson realized, don't have the time, inclination or money to seek out candy-free alternatives. They may not like offering candy, but what other options do they have? Wouldn't it be terrific if affordable, kid and earth-healthy treats and treasures were available everywhere?

What began in the summer of 2007as a conversation with her local Whole Foods Market (in Bellevue, Washington), quickly turned into a movement with other organizations and businesses wanting to take part in making Halloween healthier and safer for children and the environment.

Even before she contacted Whole Foods, Corey shared her idea with her mom, Lynn, who instantly recognized that this concept was not only applicable to Halloween, but to all holidays. She immediately began thinking that long term, there was a book, to say nothing of a whole new business on the horizon.

By December of 2007, Corey and Lynn had signed a contract for their first book together, Celebrate Green! Creating Eco-Savvy Holidays, Celebrations and Traditions for the Whole Family. The book was to be published by Kedzie Press in October, 2008.

In January, 2008, Corey and Lynn formed The Green Year, LLC, a company they eventually hope to turn into a not-for-profit business, giving proceeds to causes they support. Shortly after opening the company, they developed The Green Year seal which approved businesses can use if they agree to give a minimum of 5% of their profit on one or more items to Treeswing, a Seattle non-profit that works to improve the health of children and prevent obesity.

Unfortunately, six weeks before Celebrate Green! was to go to the printer, Kedzie's publishing arm went out of business. Bouyed by the broad-based support for their ideas about the importance of making people conscious of their actions around all celebrations, Corey and Lynn approached two other publishers. Both expressed interest in the book, but were unable to publish for at least a year. Believing that they already built momentum and that the time was right, they undertook publication themselves.

Celebrate Green's publication was published on October 1, 2008.

Since that, Lynn and Corey have appeared on TV, radio and in print media across the U.S. and in Canada. Green Halloween has grown to a national initiative with "official" GH cities including New York, San Francisco, Phoenix and others.

For more information, contact Lynn.