SSE Hosts Holiday BYOB

It will be the last BYOB (Bring Your Own Box) event of the year - the Holiday BYOB - on Thursday, December 8.
Teachers and nonprofit staff are invited to Sustainable Surplus' warehouse and to bring an empty box and fill it with free office and lab supplies.
"I think they also come for the cookies and hot apple cider," says SSE executive director Sue Prelozni.
PLUS - there will be a visit from Santa Claus!

Photos from 2015 Holiday BYOB

How SSE Staff Spend Their Weekends

Feeding the Homeless at San Diego Rescue Mission - November 19th

As part of the Live Well San Diego Lions, SSE director Sue Prelozni joined a group of six fellow Lions to feed the homeless and underprivileged at the San Diego Rescue Mission. The SD Humane Society was on hand to offer temporary housing for the participants' dogs while they ate, as well as treats, food and other supplies for their pets.

Sue with SD Rescue Mission
Director Herb Johnson

Live Well Lions cutting cake

 

The furry friends of our homeless being cared for by SDHS

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The Warehouse - Open House - November 10th & 12th 
SSE raised $3,000 and distributed at least 85 items to local nonprofits and small businesses.
 -- Thank you, everyone!

Out-going student desks to a local school

SSE Treasurer Steve Hermes
with volunteers Bret & Carleigh

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The Walk for Multiple Sclerosis - November 4th - 6th

MS Walk - Rest Stop 2

SSE Exec Admin Elise MacAndrew
and her mom, Stacey

Tomorrow is America Recycles Day!

Help Us Celebrate!

Time to think outside the box and find a new use or purpose for something that may have been destined for the trash.

Also

Instead of buying new on Black Friday – buy something previously owned and/or lightly used.  We have a warehouse full of such fun stuff!  Conserve the energy and resources to manufacture new items.

Claudia Marsh Is SSE Volunteer of the Year

Committed, responsible, and caring are just a few of the words I use to describe Claudia.  She is a leader and exudes confidence -- which is why we asked her to manage our volunteers.  Claudia’s military experience (retired Navy) shines in her ability to manage all manner of volunteers – from high school students to retired professionals.  And they all love her!

Claudia was honored at the North County Philanthropy Council Annual Volunteer Award luncheon, Thursday, November 03.

Volunteer Claudia Marsh (left) with ED Sue Prelozni

SSE Celebrates 5 Years at Gratitude with Attitude Friend Raiser

Sustainable Surplus celebrated its fifth anniversary at their Gratitude with Attitude Friend Raiser.  It was a resounding, "We Made It!" cheer from SSE board members.  We were joined by a few donors and friends, as we enjoyed wonderful food, wine and beer at the home of board advisor Bill Conner.  Live music was provided by the Collins Clan Band.

Collins Clan Band

SSE Partners with US Business Council for Sustainable Development

In a key strategic move for both Sustainable Surplus Exchange (SSE) and the US Business Council for Sustainable Development (US BCSD), the organizations have signed a partnership agreement to create a Materials Marketplace in San Diego.

The US BCSD is a member-led 501 (c)(6) nonprofit business association, founded in 1992, that harnesses the power of collaborative projects, platforms and partnerships to develop, deploy and scale solutions to ecosystems, energy, materials and water challenges.

Sustainable Surplus, a 501 (c)(3), based in San Diego,“turns corporate excess into community assets,” according to Executive Director, Sue Prelozni. SSE handles the internal surplus, everything from office supplies and furniture to computers and lab equipment, and redistributes them to schools, nonprofits and start-up organizations.

The Materials Marketplace aims to create a closed-loop, collaborative network of businesses, organizations and entrepreneurs in San Diego County where one organization’s waste becomes another organization’s raw material. In addition to diverting waste from landfills, the recovery activities will generate significant cost savings, energy savings, and create new jobs and business opportunities. 

There are four such Marketplaces located throughout the US – Austin, Detroit, Memphis and Columbus.  The US BCSD targeted San Diego after learning about the parallel mission of SSE to divert still useful product from the landfill. 

“We’re thrilled to be working alongside Sustainable Surplus in this groundbreaking new project,” said Daniel Kietzer, Program Manager for the US BCSD. “Many San Diego businesses and organizations are challenging the traditional take-make-dispose model; the Materials Marketplace is an important enabler to move this new circular thinking into action.”

Read the rest of the story...

SSE Partners with NETGEAR to Give Back-Packs to Homeless Youth

It was a special day of giving to underserved youth in San Diego North County, readying them for school.   Thanks to the generosity and thoughtfulness of the employees at NETGEAR, at least 50 children are prepared to go back to school with a new backpack full of the necessary supplies.

NETGEAR chooses different areas of philanthropic opportunities to support the community throughout the year, according to Francesca Vanderloo, office coordinator.  Their focus for this campaign:  children in need.  Through their research, they decided to utilize the School-Tools Backpacks by World Vision for their outreach. “We felt that the homeless and foster children would benefit the most from receiving a School-Tools backpack filled with school supplies,” said Vanderloo.

New Haven ED Chris Kates, SSE CEO Sue Prelozni with
with Francesca Vanderloo and Katherine Morda of NETGEAR

NETGEAR’s staff created an event for their employees to assemble backpacks with school supplies for donation to local non-profits that focused on helping homeless and foster school age children.

The exchanges were arranged by local nonprofit Sustainable Surplus, whose mission is to repurpose supplies to those in need at local schools and nonprofits.  “When our friends at NETGEAR reached out regarding this special project, we were more than happy to help them identify a few local nonprofits whose constituents truly fit their purpose,” said SSE director Sue Prelozni.

Together they focused on three nonprofits:  Petra House, New Haven Youth and Family Services and Stand Up for Kids.

Sue (SSE) with Carlton Brown, ED of Petra House
and Francesca and Katherine (NETGEAR)

The timing was perfect as school was about to begin and the children could start the school year with tools to help them be successful in the classroom.  “The best part of the School-Tools Backpack is the hand written note it includes with words of encouragement, prepared by our employees who assembled the backpacks,” said Vanderloo.  She added, “It is with great gratitude to Sue Prelozni and Sustainable Surplus, that we successfully distributed 50 backpacks to these organizations.” 

For information about corporate outreach to local nonprofits, contact sue@sustainablesurplus.org

Everyone Jumped In for Blind Surfing Event

September 11, 2016 – Members of Sustainable Surplus’ team volunteered at the Blind Surfing Event sponsored by the Encinitas Lions Club.  It was a heartfelt event where surf instructors and helpers guided sight-challenged children and adults into the tide at South Ponto Point in Carlsbad.

Elise MacAndrew, executive assistant of Team SSE, spent most of the day in chest-deep water, guiding her assigned students onto a wave.  “It was such an incredible experience,” Elise shared.  “I’d do this again next year for sure!”

MacAndrew and SSE executive director, Sue Prelozni, volunteered as part of the Live Well San Diego Lions team, led by County Supervisor Dave Roberts - who also jumped in.  Everyone was hands on and in the water, sharing in the passion!

Blind surfer coming in Elise's team heading out.

Surfer Joshua, his dog Hobbs
with instructor Elise and Helper Cindy

Joshua catches a wave and rides it in!

Repurpose for a Purpose

Today’s Make a Hat Day.  Time to get out those old things in your closet and recreate something new.  It’s always better to Repurpose for a Purpose.  We know, we do it every day.  Join us here

  

See SSE BYOB Event on TV

The Back to School BYOB (Bring Your Own Box) was a huge success with 240 teachers and nonprofit staff signed up.  Attendees were invited to come to the Sustainable Surplus' warehouse with an empty box and fill it with FREE supplies.  On average, they left with $200 of pens, paper, staplers and other office supplies.
San Diego County Supervisor Dave Roberts, a long time supporter of SSE's mission toward a sustainable community, was on hand to meet and greet the teachers.

See the clip on CW-6 here:  SSE on CW-6

Or paste this link into your browser
http://www.cw6sandiego.com/teachers-non-profit-staff-receive-free-school-supplies/

Special Visit from Long Time Supporter Supervisor Dave Roberts

Supervisor Dave Roberts attends the August 2016 BYOB!

Teachers line up out the door waiting for the event to begin.

CEO Sue Prelozni and Supervisor Dave Roberts talk with teachers before the event begins.

Happy teachers ready to fill their boxes!

Supervisor Dave Roberts peruses the housewares section of Sustainable Surplus. We accept donations of all kinds!

Thanks for coming!!!

BYOB August 2016 - a great success!

  Bring Your Own Box!  

This year's pickings of FREE supplies for teachers and non profits:

Supervisor Dave Roberts chats with teachers before the event:

Teachers anxiously waiting for the event to begin as news camera crews look on:

The flood gates open!

When asked what they think of the BYOB, teachers say:

"I love it! I love it."

"I would say I'm saving probably hundreds of dollars"

"We found all kinds of stuff. I was overwhelmed with all the options."

"This event is a wonderful community builder... I think it's great that it's extended to educators specifically. This time of the year is so important while we're all working to get our classrooms started and up and running for our students and offering the best supplies and I'm just so grateful..."

Make sure you are signed up as a NONPROFIT MEMBER to attend our next BYOB! See you there!

Big Back-to-School BYOB Event TODAY

Sustainable Surplus fifth annual Back-to-School BYOB event is today.  BYOB is Bring Your Own Box for teachers and nonprofit staff to fill an empty box with FREE office supplies.  More than 200 people signed up!

Support SSE at Amazon When You Shop

Sustainable Surplus Exchange is part of the Amazon Smiles campaign and a portion of sales, YOUR sales, is donated back to SSE.
Support us when you shop for back-to-school items. #StartWithaSmile at http://smile.amazon.com/ch/27-4666846 and Amazon donates.

San Diego County Supervisors Support SSE through Grant

Three San Diego County Supervisors continued to support SSE and its mission to serve community organizations with repurposed items.

Supervisors Bill Horn, Dave Roberts and Greg Cox donated a total of $16,500 through the Community Enhancement program.  The funds are earmarked for Sustainable Surplus’ ENGAGE! San Diego program and BYOB events.

ENGAGE! is an innovative program which magnifies SSE’s involvement with local businesses, their employees and the community.  “It is a reuse/recycle campaign that fosters corporations’ social responsibility through the donation of items for repurposing, as well as engages their employees in volunteerism and sustainability,” explained SSE executive director Sue Prelozni .

 “We accept everything from office supplies to furniture, computers and lab equipment.” All items are redirected back into community schools, nonprofits and start-up organizations.

The BYOB or Bring-Your-Own-Box  event is SSE’s most popular event, invites teachers and nonprofit staff to come to the warehouse with an empty box and fill it with free office supplies.  On average, attendees leave with $200 worth of items.

SSE Awarded Grant from BBVA Compass

In recognition for its support of underprivileged, low-to-moderate income people and communities, SSE was awarded the grant from BBVA Compass Foundation.  SSE qualified in the Foundation’s area of focus for environmental work, particularly to provide projects with significant impact on the environment and sustainable practices and to promote public education on those issues.

“Our BBVA Compass San Diego Foundation and Volunteer Chapter voted unanimously to approve a grant for SSE because the environment and sustainability are one of the five areas we have selected to support, said Senior Vice President Lucy von Buttlar.   “SSE's goals and mission are aligned with BBVA Foundation's environmental focus, as well as its work to help the disadvantaged.”

The grant award was for $2500 for general support of SSE’s programs and makes BBVA a Green Leaf Program Sponsor.  “I am very impressed with BBVA’s environmental and natural resources program promoting sustainability,” said SSE executive director Sue Prelozni.  The BBVA Group promotes its Global Eco-Efficiency Plan, an initiative to reduce the company's carbon emissions by 20 percent.  

Datron Continues to Support Mission of SSE

For the second year in a row, Datron World Communications Foundation has gifted $10,000 to Sustainable Surplus (SSE) to support its ENGAGE! San Diego program.  The Foundation’s mission

is to positively impact the lives of others today and in the future. Datron provides for this fund by tithing 10 percent of its quarterly operating profit into the fund.

ENGAGE! is an innovative program to magnify SSE’s engagement with local businesses, their employees and the community.  ENGAGE! is a reuse/recycle campaign that fosters corporations’ social responsibility through the donation of items for repurposing, as well as engages their employees in volunteerism and sustainability. 

Datron has been an asset donor to SSE for four years, donating everything from office supplies and furniture to electronic equipment.  “We are very grateful to Datron for supporting our mission to build a sustainable community by helping local organizations,” said executive director Sue Prelozni.

Datron employee Danny Pate sponsored SSE to request the gift from the Foundation.

The gift arrives at a key time for SSE.  Due to the increasing surplus donations, SSE has had to increase its operations and manpower to manage the inventory and get it redistributed to local educational, nonprofit and start-up organizations.

SSE Executive Director Elected to CRRA Council

SSE Executive Director, Sue Prelozni, has been elected to the California Resource Recovery Association's (CRRA)Technical Council for Prevention, ReUse & Repair.  She will serve on the Executive Committee of that Council.

SSE has been a member for about two years.  Ms. Prelozni presented at their Zero Waste convention in LA last year in 2015.  "I am happy to serve on this committee and I know I will be working with top leaders focused on sustainable solutions to waste and conservation of our resources," said Prelozni.

For more information about CRRA:  http://www.crra.com/

SSE on ESPN Real Talk San Diego Radio

Catch SSE executive director Sue Prelozni on the ESPN's Real Talk San Diego -- featured on the Live Well San Diego radio hour.
Sue talks about the challenges of starting a nonprofit, what it's like to be a CEO of a start-up and why SSE is the right choice for everyone in the community and our environment

http://www.realtalksandiego.com/podcasts/

Second Annual Christmas in July Event

SSE is hosting its second annual Christmas in July warehouse sale event and is opening the facility to the general public.  This is a fund raiser to support SSE operations and to keep this awesome program going.

DATE:     Friday, July 22
TIME:     1 pm - 6 pm
PLACE:  760 Shadowridge Dr., Vista

Items on sale:  chairs, file cabinets, computer monitors, printers, tables, lovely coffee tables and so much more!

SSE Receives Harrah's Grant Award

As part of the "All in 4 Change" grant competition offered by the Harrah's Resort Foundation, Sustainable Surplus received $3,000.  Harrah's sponsored an online voting campaign to spike community interest in local organizations.  They awarded a total of $100,000.
"We open up voting to everyone in our community. The finalists take home twelve grants that will help make Southern California a more vibrant place to live and work," said Sheryl Sebastian, Harrah's Manager of Communications & Community Relations.

Executive Director Sue Prelozni with
Board Advisor Bill Brenza

EmPOWERment of Women

SSE executive director, Sue Prelozni, joined Carlsbad Council Member Lorraine Wood and several other local women leaders as featured speakers at the Power of Women event.  The leadership event was created by WIN Consulting and its director, Therese Cisneros, and took place at sponsor Point Loma Credit Union’s facility in La Costa.

The topics ranged from creating a network of strong women to finding the confidence in yourself to follow your passion – with a common theme of women empowerment. 

Kaye Van Nevel, director of Soroptimist International (Vista) was the keynote speaker.  Soroptimist is an international volunteer service organization working to improve the lives of women and girls throughout the world. Ms. Nevel spoke on the issue of human trafficking and how it is triggered by disrespect, especially of women by men.

Other guest speakers included Carol Fehr, Mary Kay consultant, Carmen Contreras of Point Loma Credit Union and Maria Burns of the Hispanic Chamber of e-Commerce.

Zelda Waxenberg Joins SSE Board of Directors

Benefitting from her keen interest in the environment, Sustainable Surplus is pleased to announce the addition of Zelda Waxenberg to its board of directors.  Ms. Waxenberg is a native to California and President and Co-Founder of Bottles and Wood, an eco-designer and manufacturer for the hospitality and décor industries.

“We utilize unique designs and reclaimed materials sourcing, mostly glass and wood, then transform the reclaimed materials into furniture, lighting, serving ware, and other products,” she explained.  The B&W business model supports the circular economy and the goals of Sustainable Surplus’ mission to divert still usable materials away from the landfill and into the hands of community.

Ms. Waxenberg founded ZJW Investments in 1982 and has worked in real estate investments and development since 1976.  She is a strong philanthropist and supports many organizations here, including

La Jolla Playhouse, the Friends of Del Mar Parks, the USD Idea Lab: Women Innovators, and USD Joan B. Kroc Institute for Peace and Commerce.

“We see many opportunities for collaboration and growth through Zelda’s strong community connections,” said SSE executive director Sue Prelozni.  “We are very fortunate to have her on our team.”

Grant for Elementary Teachers

Hello to our many teachers at elementary schools! Please click on this link to review this GREAT grant opportunity for you from Crayola !
http://www.crayola.com/for-educators/ccac-landing/grant-program.aspx 

The Champion Creatively Alive Children grant opportunity provides grants for innovative, creative leadership team building within elementary schools. Apply now for the opportunity to receive a grant for building your school's creative capacity. Each grant-winning school (up to 20 grants awarded) receives $2,500 and Crayola products valued at $1,000.

Spring BYOB a Real Blast

More than 90 teachers and nonprofit staff attended the Spring BYOB - Bring-Your-Own-Box event at Sustainable Surplus' warehouse.  This is the "Fave" event where teachers and nonprofits are invited to bring an empty box and fill it with free supplies.  Oodles of notebooks, stacks of paper, and handfuls of clips, pens and other fun items filled their boxes.

Arrivals with empty boxes

Shoppers filling boxes

Our youngest attendee

To attend the next BYOB, just SIGN UP as a nonprofit or education member and you'll be invited!