What is the Water Education Collaborative?

What is the story behind H2O Hero?

The Water Education Collaborative (WEC) set out to develop an awareness campaign that would educate the residents of the Genesee Valley watershed about the enormous impact they can have on the water quality in our area. WEC leaders teamed up with the Advertising Council of Rochester, a local nonprofit organization that creates awareness campaigns to address community-wide issues. The Ad Council pulled in a volunteer marketing team from SIGMA Marketing Group, and the rest is history.

Holy Hydrology! Who is H2O Hero?

In our world, he’s Larry. In your world, H20 Hero can be your neighbor, your best friend — even YOU! Everyone has the power to be an H2O Hero, because everyone has the power to change the things we do around our homes that can directly affect our waterways. Larry is an H2O Hero. Now it’s your turn. Find out how by clicking here.

WEC, the Ad Council of Rochester, and SIGMA Marketing Group are just a few of the organizations that made this campaign possible through their in-kind support and creativity. Many thanks to:

CREDITS:

Producer
Barb Coté, SIGMA Marketing Group

Illustrator and Director
David Cowles / www.davidcowles.net

Writer
Tom Cunningham, SIGMA Marketing Group

Art Director and Web Design
Richard Whitesell, SIGMA Marketing Group

Animator
Jeremy Galante / www.jeremygalante.com

Voice Talent
Dave Kyle

Market Research
BRX Global Research
Harris Interactive

Background Music Recorded
Bob Potter, Finger Lakes Community College / www.cabinfeverrecording.com

Voice Recording and Mixing
Steve Bartolotta, MarketHOLD Productions

Video Editing
Chuck Munier, Crystal Pix

Music
Rob and Kellie Reed, Presto Largo 

Guitar and Vocals
Rob Reed

Harp
Tom Hanney / www.thewhitehots.com / www.bluespower.org

Drums
Chris Van Campen

Bass and Backing Vocals
Bruce Lish

Backing Vocals
Alison Cowles

Media Planning
Butler/Till Media Services

Special thanks to our funders as well:
Marie C. & Joseph C. Wilson Foundation
Advertising Council of Rochester
Monroe County Stormwater Coalition
Rochester Area Community Foundation
Rochester Museum and Science Center

Thank you to our media partners:
13 WHAM TV/13.2 CW-WHAM
About…Time Magazine
Adnet Direct
Business Strategies Magazine
Catholic Courier
City Newspaper
Clear Channel Communications
Computer Link Magazine
Daily Messenger
The Daily Record
Democrat and Chronicle
Empire State Weeklies
Entercom Marketing Results Group
Freetime Magazine
Genesee Valley Parent
Golden Times
Labor News
Marquis Media
Messenger Post Newspapers
NextStep Magazine
Rochester Business Journal
Rochester Swap Sheet
Rochester Woman
Shopping Bag Advertiser
Time Warner Cable
WHEC – TV 10
WROC – TV 8
WUHF – Fox Rochester
WXXI

H2O heroes in the community:
Delta Sonic Car Wash

If you’d like to learn more about supporting this project, please contact us.

What is the Water Education Collaborative?

The Water Education Collaborative (WEC) is a coalition of organizations that work together to increase water quality education in the community. The purpose of the Collaborative is to inspire people to help protect and improve water quality in the lakes and streams of the Genesee Region watershed.
Why was WEC formed?
Most of the pollution in the Genesee Region watershed comes from polluted runoff or nonpoint sources, such as lawn and farm chemicals, road salt, runoff from impervious surfaces, soil erosion and others. The Collaborative was formed in April 2001 to support programs that educate people about how they affect water quality and what can be done to protect it.
What does WEC do?

· Water Quality Education Programs
· Share resources and serve as a clearinghouse for water education programs
· Fundraising (to support programs)

What is the Stormwater Coalition?

The Stormwater Coalition of Monroe County is an alliance of 28 municipalities and institutions that works collaboratively with its community partners to reduce stormwater pollution and protect water quality.  Public education is an important part of the Coalition’s strategy because many routine activities such as lawn care, car maintenance and washing, and the disposal of household wastes are important sources of stormwater pollution.