Support Sustainable Surplus - Something You Believe In

Sustainable Surplus launched its year-end funding campaign – Mission Critical: Support Leadership – today.The goal is to raise money to hire experienced staff to manage Operations and Logistics.

Just in time for the 12 days of Christmas and 8 days of Hanukkah, SSE founder Sue Prelozni says, “This is the premier time of giving, as well as for supporting an organization you believe in.”

SSE supports teachers, nonprofits and start-up companies all year long.  Now they are asking for help to keep their mission going.

Teachers spend, on average, $450 of their own money annually on supplies for their classroom. 

In 2014 Sustainable Surplus (SSE) eased that burden by giving more than $210,000 of FREE office supplies to San Diego’s teachers and nonprofit leaders.

SSE also made a half million dollars of valuable assets available to educational, charitable and start-up organizations.  The assets were surplus or out-of-use items from local companies, e.g. furniture, office supplies, computers, lab equipment.

Read more about the campaign and DONATE HERE

Trade Tech High-ers Are Santa's Helpers

Several Trade Tech High School - North County students got into the holiday spirit while helping at SSE’s Sort and Separate program.  The students were sorting through hundreds of boxes of donated office supplies and discovered a few Santa outfits. And they quickly put them to good use!

Every month students from local schools are SSE’s helpers.  The boxes full of office supplies are sorted and separated for the next BYOB- Bring Your Own Box event which SSE hosts eight times a year.  Teachers and nonprofit staff are invited to come with an empty box and fill it with free supplies.

SSE has supported more than 300 teachers and nonprofit leaders throughout San Diego county this year and has donned over $200,000 of supplies. The next BYOB is December 11 at the Vista warehouse.  Click for information about BYOB

Our thanks to Amber, Joey, Monica & Veronica of Trade Tech!

Joseph Shields Is SSE Volunteer of the Year

Because of his dedication, service and constant positive attitude, Sustainable Surplus elected student Joseph (Joey) Shields as Volunteer of the Year.  The nomination was part of the North County Philanthropy Council’s annual event held Thursday, November 6 at the Sheraton Carlsbad.

“Joey wears a smile like the Cheshire Cat,” remarked SSE executive director Sue Prelozni.  “He is a fine example to other youth, leading the way in social responsibility.”

When asked why he volunteers, Joey commented, “I chose volunteering at SSE over all the places where I can serve because, at SSE, I felt like I would be doing more and be able to help more people than anywhere else.”

A senior at Trade Tech High School in Vista, Joey plans to continue his community service by enrolling in the armed forces after graduation.

SSE Joins Carlsbad Campaign to Engage Millennials

Millennials are invited to the first Make a Date to Make Difference event. This campaign is led by folks at the City of Carlsbad.  It will be hosted at 83 Degrees Restaurant in downtown Carlsbad, November 20 at 7 pm. 

Come meet other millennials, enjoy free appetizers and sign up to volunteer for a worthy cause.

Each organization will have information about their mission and a one-day volunteer opportunity. Featured non-profits presenting include the Boys and Girls Club of Oceanside, San Elijo Conservancy, Sustainable Surplus, Move Your Feet before You Eat and the City of Carlsbad.

SSE Director Chosen as Winner of Women Who Mean Business

SDBJ Executive Editor
Reo Carr with SSE CEO
Sue Prelozni

Sustainable Surplus executive director Sue Prelozni was named one of winners of the San Diego Business Journal’s "Women Who Mean Business" awards -- recognizing local women making a difference.  Close to 300 women were nominated – in all areas of business, research, entrepreneurship and charity.  

“It was an honor to be on stage with some very incredible women,” remarked Prelozni. 

Ms. Prelozni was nominated by her peers for her achievements at SSE, supporting community organizations and the environment. In just three years SSE has repurposed much-needed assets to more than 250 local educational and nonprofit organizations, benefiting over 50,000 teachers, students and charitable recipients.  
As a result, SSE has diverted 250,000 pounds of solid waste from the landfills - reducing greenhouse gas emissions and converting the dependency of disposal to recycling.

SSE Team Shows Up in Full at IEA Conference

SSE CEO Sue Prelozni joined by Board
Directors Charlie Copela & Dave Lange

Several members of the Sustainable Surplus (SSE) team participated in the 30^th annual conference of the Industrial Environmental Association (IEA).

SSE board director Dave Lange, who is also the IEA sustainability committee co-chair, moderated a panel of speakers addressing “Sustainability Reporting:  Current and Emerging Trends.”

Diana Shapiro addresses
2020 Recycling Goals

Diana Shapiro, SSE board director and COO of Environmental Waste Solutions, presented on “Meeting 2020 Recycling Goals.”  She addressed the lack of resources provided to companies to help them achieve sustainable best practices.

Dave Lange moderates
panel on Sustainability Reporting

And SSE CEO Sue Prelozni accepted an honorable mention for SSE’s  excellent work in the community supporting sustainability and the environment. 

The IEA conference focuses on environmental compliance and was attended by over 400 people representing manufacturing, biotech, and high tech companies.  It included 2 days of break-out sessions, as well as an exhibit hall where SSE was also a featured exhibitor.

SSE Director Nominated for “Women Who Mean Business”

Sustainable Surplus executive director, Sue Prelozni, was nominated as one of San Diego’s “Women Who Means Business” in the event by the same name hosted by the San Diego Business Journal.  The SDBJ recognizes and rewards successful companies and business people, making a difference in the local economy.  Ms. Prelozni was nominated by her peers for her achievements at SSE, supporting community organizations and the environment.

The awards ceremony will be held November 5 at the Town & Country Resort.  For details, clickhere.

SSE to Exhibit at Industrial Environmental Association Conference

Sustainable Surplus will participate in the Industrial Environmental Association (IEA) this week, October 28-29 at the San Diego Hilton Resort and Spa.   

The Conference focuses on environmental compliance and is attended by over 400 people representing manufacturing, biotech, and high tech companies. The speakers and panelists include California legislators and regulators who are at the forefront of environmental policy at the State and National level.

Come visit us at booth # 24.  http://iea-sd.com/conference/ 

SSE Featured Partner at Gear Up!

Sustainable Surplus is the featured partner in the "SpotLight" of Palomar College's Gear UP! program for students.  SSE supplies desk organizers, desk file holders, school supplies, paper, 3-ring binders to the Gear Up! program which rewards students for improving GPA, attending tutor services and for program participation. 

Read more at Gear Up! Spotlight 

It Was Gratitude with Attitude at First Annual Event

What could be better than having 120 people in a room who share your vision for the community?  A party to celebrate it!  

Sustainable Surplus (SSE) held its first annual “Gratitude with Attitude” friend raiser to celebrate the support of its donors, as well as to bring new friends into the fold. 

Guests were entertained with live music, food and libations at the home of interim-chair Diana Shapiro in The Crosby.  

The event was sponsored by MckinneyAdvisory Group, Morgan Stanley and Sonya Berg Zen Fashionista.

What made this so fantastic?  Everything had an element of donation for the event.  A special call-out to the 12 food and beverage vendors for their donations:

2Good2Be, Dolce Pane E Vino, El Callejon, Green Dragon Tavern, Kasi Foods, La Jolla Brewing Company, NakedWines.com,Pacific Coast Grill, Panera, Pure Water Technology, Rock 'n' Roll Sushi, and Venom Vodka

Music by the Haskell Collins Band was the perfect ambiance of "oldies but goodies," enhanced by Karen Crawford Flowers and Sinsay Fitography.  Guests were given a wine glass engraved by Signature Hand Engraving to remember the event.

A really fun twist was the addition of a psychic, Jerry Hoskey and numerologist Ariela - to entertain and engage attendees in their future!  (Hopefully, with SSE in the picture!)

SSE raised $3000 at its silent auction.  Some choice items were tickets for the San Diego Film Festival; game tickets for the SD Chargers and Padres; and a driver golf club from TaylorMade Golf.

Here are a few special photos from a fun-filled evening of gratitude and and new friends:

SSE CEO to Speak at Greens Conference

Sustainable Surplus CEO Sue Prelozni will be a guest speaker at the Go for the Greens conference in Orlando, Florida on September 12.  This year’s theme is “Innovate, Collaborate, Celebrate,” with a focus on the green of sustainability. 

Prelozni will be part of a panel discussion, “Integrating Sustainability into Your Core Business Operations,” joining leaders from UPS, Duke Energy, CSX Transportation, Walt Disney World,

and Green Materials. 

According to organizer, Susanna Carson, approximately one in five companies has integrated green practices into its core business operations, even though the mainstream cite corporate responsibility as an area of importance.

Go for the Greens is a business development conference for women entrepreneurs, and offers a venue to network, learn and pursue business connections.  The conference provides “match-making” opportunities between large corporations and start-up entrepreneurial companies.  To learn more, please see:  Go For the Greens

SSE Celebrates Largest BYOB

It was the biggest BYOB in Sustainable Surplus history!  Over 100 teachers and nonprofit leaders participated in the Bring Your Own Box event and received hundreds of dollars’ worth of free office and lab supplies. 

“It’s our students who really benefit from this,” said Therese Remington, marketing director of the Palomar College GEAR UP program.  “We've been coming to the BYOB since inception and are so grateful for this outlet and support.”

Too often teachers and NPO staff have to pay for their office items out-of-pocket.  The education budget is broken and charitable organizations still struggle as the economy starts to pull out if its recession.

If you work with or represent an educational or charitable organization, you can attend the BYOB.  Just sign up at the website www.SustainableSurplus.org.  It is free!

SSE Finalist in Wells Fargo Works Project Contest

Wells Fargo selected Sustainable Surplus as a “Finalist” in its national Works Project Contest.  The project is designed to support the founders and owners of a small business.  Finalists receive a check for $1000 and the chance to be one of five total winners.  Wells Fargo awards winners with $25,000 and one-on-one mentoring, tailored to their specific needs to grow their business.  Support SSE’s chances to win by viewing our link at the Works Project website.

Sustainable Surplus Moves into Second Warehouse

August 2014 - SSE has now populated its second warehouse with items from two large donors, Kleinfelder Coporation and Haley & Aldrich.  The bulk of the surplus is furniture and office supplies.  There were over 500 items donated and they will be featured on the Exchange.

The new warehouse space is located in Otay Mesa and has been donated by a division of NEI, a large property management firm.  SSE now has locations in North Count and the South Bay, serving all of San Diego County.

 

 

Parker Foundation Supports Sustainable Surplus

The Parker Foundation awarded local nonprofit Sustainable Surplus Exchange (SSE) a $15,000 grant to support its capacity building.

“The grant will enable SSE to hire the manpower needed to sustain its growth,” said executive director Sue Prelozni.  “It is exactly what SSE needs at this time.”

Founded in 1971 by Inez Grant Parker in memory of her husband Gerald T., the Parker Foundation has granted over $42 million to charitable purposes leading to the betterment of life for all people of San Diego County.  The Foundation supports local nonprofit organizations in an area they need it most and where it is often the most difficult to secure – at the core of establishing capacity, noted Prelozni.  “We are very grateful.”

Help Sustainable Surplus Win $25,000

Help Sustainable Surplus win a competition that supports small nonprofits.  Hosted by Wells Fargo.  Just VOTE for us here:  https://wellsfargoworks.com/project?x=us-en_viewentriesandvote 
Click on the magnifying glass and search by our name.  Thanks for your continued support!

Carlsbad Charitable Foundation Gives Large Donation to SSE

It was an exciting evening of connecting the funders and founders with the grantees hosted by the Carlsbad Charitable Foundation (CCF).

Sustainable Surplus (SSE) received a generous grant of $20,000 from CCF to support its new program, ENGAGE Carlsbad.  The program engages local companies and their employees in volunteerism and donation. 

Dale Isaacs, CCF Grants Chair
presents $20,000 check to Sue Prelozni
and Sandy Atkinson

“This grant is an incredible testament of the Foundation’s commitment and support to the sustainability of this community,” said SSE executive director Sue Prelozni.  “We are very grateful for their support.”

ENGAGE Carlsbad will work one-on-one with a company and its employees to gather surplus items that are out of use but still have useful life. Everyone will learn and participate in sustainable practices. The items will be repurposed back into the community of educational, charitable and start-up organizations.

To participate in this program and for more information contact SSE at 760.736.4416.

BYOB Helps Vista Teen Parent Program

It was an interesting combination of surplus items:  bright green and yellow visors, green plastic mugs and sunflower seed packets. 

Somehow, Susie Bristow, director to the Teen Parent Program at Vista Unified school district put it all together to make it a fun package. 

“The kids loved the visors and planted the sunflower seeds in the mugs!” exclaimed Ms. Bristow.  “The items helped make our annual picnic a huge success.”

The sundry of items came from SSE’s monthly BYOB - Bring Your Own Box event – where attendees fill an empty box full of free office supplies.  For more information on the BYOB, click here

 

Sustainable Surplus a Finalist at Innovation Awards

A good time was had by all at the San Diego Business Journal “Innovation Awards” event last night.  Sustainable Surplus was elected in the “green technologies” category.  And, although SSE did not win, it is very noteworthy that SSE was THE ONLY nonprofit organization in the entire group.  Kudos to team SSE!

Board Directors Irene Stillings, Steve Hermes (in back) and Kelly Bagla support Sue Prelozni, ED (center)

Catch SSE in the SDBJ this week!

The story is about the Clif Bar Family Foundation grant and is in the Kudos/Giving section - the last story...
http://www.sdbj.com/news/2014/may/30/company-gives-back-giving-out-backpacks-homeless/

Transformation Through Collaboration

That is the theme of this year's Cause Conference hosted by the San Diego chapter of the American Marketing Association, on Wednesday, May 28. Leaders from nearly 300 local nonprofits will be participating, including Sustainable Surplus executive director Sue Prelozni.  

Some highlights of the topics to be covered include:  1) Understand social sector synergy to tackle challenges, enrich colleagues, form “high trust” relationships, build mutual value; 2) Refocus priorities with resourcefulness, not just resources, and 3) Use “radical collaborations” to create transformational outcomes: a key element in advancing the mission of “purpose-driven” groups.

The conference is celebrating its 16th year, focused on supporting the social sector.

Special Guests at BYOB Bring Big Check

Supv Horn presents $15,000 check to
interim board chairman Diana Shapiro
and executive director Sue Prelozni.

Two San Diego County supervisors attended the BYOB event this week and presented Sustainable Surplus (SSE) with a very big check – literally and figuratively. 

Supervisor Bill Horn gave SSE a check for $15,000 – representing a large portion of the cost of a much-needed truck.  Supervisor Dave Roberts, a continuing supporter of SSE, gave an additional $8,000 to cover the rest.

“We are very appreciative of their generous donation,” said Sue Prelozni, SSE executive director.  “The ability to pick up and deliver donated items will greatly improve our business processes and will increase the positive impact we have on the community.”

Supv Roberts acknowledges the gift
of donated warehouse space from GE
Water Technologies GM Randy Bull

For those not yet familiar, the BYOB - or Bring Your Own Box event -  invites teachers and nonprofit leaders to come to the warehouse with an empty box and fill it with free office supplies.  To get on the invitation list, simply sign up at www.SustainableSurplus.org .  The is open to members of educational and charitable organizations only.

Clif Bar Family Foundation Supports SSE

Underlining its support of the environment and focus on strengthening communities, the Clif Bar Family Foundation (CBFF) gave an $8000 grant to local nonprofit, Sustainable Surplus Exchange (SSE).

“Among the hundreds of proposals we received, their organization stands out as one that will offer social and environmental change,” according to Carrie Walle, CBFF program associate.  

The two organizations share several parallel missions - reducing waste while conserving resources and producing green jobs.  Sustainable Surplus diverts unnecessary corporate waste from the landfills by providing companies a direct channel to repurpose their out of use assets to local schools and nonprofit organizations. read more here

Event Raised $100 per Hour

What a Funding Frenzy

We THANK YOU all for your support!  What a fun day funding with The San Diego Foundation. According to the clock, SSE's funding actually started around 9 am and ended at 9 pm. Every hour translates to $100.  How fun is that?

Having Fun Being Green at Earth Fair

 

The SSE team had a blast at Earth Fair 2014.  Over 700 people visited our booth to learn about Sustainable Surplus.  We were interviewed by KNSJ radio.  And most fun of all, when a fourth-grade student asked SSE executive director Sue Prelozni to submit her view on the event and what it means to be sustainable. The ten year old was writing a report for her class.