Air Purifier News

Clean Air for Kids Foundation to Help Fund School Indoor Air Quality Projects

Children and teachers suffer serious health problems because of high levels of allergen particulates in classroom air.

Plans to launch a new private non-profit foundation, called the Clean Air for Kids Foundation (http://www.cleanair4kids.org), was announced today by founder Stanley Brannan, a successful serial entrepreneur.

The goal of the foundation is to raise private capital from individual donors, charitable foundations, government agencies and corporations and to distribute these funds to schools nationwide to provide full or partial funding to public and private schools and non-profit daycare centers for products proven to lower the level of indoor allergens, dust and irritants. It is believed that these tiny invisible airborne particles are responsible for a significant portion of avoidable illnesses, missed school days and health costs for students and teachers. Sometimes called Sick Building Syndrome, the problem is typically associated with increased levels of repeat ear, sinus and throat infections, coughing, allergies and eventually asthma in children and teachers.

These common respiratory symptoms are elevated in buildings that have had water damage from leaks, storms, hurricanes, flooding or plumbing issues, according to studies reported by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Centers for Disease Control (CDC). Increased levels of airborne particulates, especially mold, are believed to be responsible for repeat cases of Upper Respiratory Tract Infection (URTI) in children and teachers. Even brand new school buildings need cleaner indoor air.

Mr. Brannan is also the President and CEO of Heartland Technology, Inc. which manufactures a patented high-capacity ceiling-fan-like air filter that silently filters 2,000 cubic feet of air per minute (CFM). Over 30,000 have been installed.

Mr. Brannan described the reported impact of cleaner classroom air, "We've had teachers report some very impressive results on their own personal health, and the health of the children in their classrooms." He continued, "Some teachers were able to get off their allergy medications for the first time in years, and some students who had needed a daily inhaler, and missed a lot of sick days, were so much healthier they didn't use their inhalers, or miss any school sick days after the Pur Airs were installed. The problem is that finding funding in tight school budgets makes it very hard, so parents and teachers sometimes purchase this technology with their own money to keep children healthy and in school."

The foundation plans to raise millions in private money to be able to fund projects from as small as one classroom for about $400 to an entire 20-classroom elementary school costing over $20,000. Funds can be used to purchase approved air filtration systems, walk-off dust mats and high- filtration vacuum sweepers. All of these products are proven to be useful in reducing the level of airborne particles. Target donors will include many corporations that make significant revenues targeting purchases related to children. The foundation also hopes to convince many companies whose products contribute to poor air quality that it would be a good way to give something back to the community. The expected payback is reduced short- and long-term illness in children and teachers, energy savings and even better test scores from students.

The funding applications can be submitted by a student, parent, teacher, principal, school nurse or school administrator. Projects are approved on a first-come, first-served basis. Complete details can be found at the Foundation's website: http://www.cleanair4kids.org.

The Clean Air for Kids Foundation will be handing out materials in the Pur Air booth at the Texas Elementary School Principals Association tradeshow in Austin, TX on June 7th - 8th, and to the teachers attending the NEA Expo in Orlando, FL from June 29th to July 2nd. The goal is to get a substantial number of applications filed to convince donors to contribute more funding.