Maryland's Koolhof Earth Nonprofit to Raise Funds for 125-Year-Old Emmanuel Monastery Building at Upcoming Inaugural Gala

Baltimore, Maryland, January 25, 2016 (Newswire.com) - ​​​​In an effort to bring attention to local, regional and national environmental sustainability projects, Columbia, Maryland-based Koolhof Earth will host its annual fundraising gala at The Engineers Club on Saturday, February 27. Each year, Koolhof Earth will select an organization in need of energy and/or environmental retrofits. This year’s gala will benefit the Emmanuel Monastery, a century-old facility in Lutherville, Maryland that is in dire need of energy-efficient upgrades.

Emmanuel Monastery, located on Joppa Road, has served Baltimore as a place of refuge and a source of spiritual support for nearly 45 years. The monastery is home to the Benedictine sisters of Baltimore, who nurture and care for their community and the earth.

"What makes Koolhof Earth unique is our gentle approach to going green, instead of being chastising or overly aggressive. We're warm and educating and inviting, and we'd much rather lead by example,"

Allan Straughan, Director, Koolhof Earth

The sister’s ministries extend throughout Baltimore and include teaching, working in hospitals, supporting local parishes and assisting social justice organizations. Everything the sisters are involved in shows their care and concern for others.

Their care for the earth is evidenced by how they live their daily lives at the monastery. Rain barrels, composting, gardening, recycling, participating in Community Supported Agriculture (CSA), and a minimum waste approach are environmentally sustainable methods they have kept up with for years.

Emmanuel Monastery and the Benedictine sisters are perfect partners for Koolhof Earth, as Koolhof Earth’s mission is to deliver sustainable environmental and energy retrofits.   

“Our partnership actually began three years ago when we completed an energy audit of the monastery. This audit produced a report that identified a number of issues, including leaky windows, missing chimney dampers, wet basements, and highly inefficient HVAC systems. When we presented these issues to the sisters, they said they did not have the funding necessary to implement needed retrofits,” said Koolhof Earth director Allan Straughan.  

Straughan emphasized that the goal is to equip the Emmanuel Monastery with energy-efficient windows, air conditioning, appliances, solar panels, insulation and more. “We want the sisters to enjoy a more comfortable, affordable and environmentally friendly home,” he added.

The sisters are especially thankful for the recognition. “We were so grateful when we heard that Koolhof Earth had selected us as the recipients of the Give Back Gala.  Benedictines have a long tradition of being good stewards of the earth. This opportunity will allow us to maintain the monastery in a way that is true to the Benedictine love and care for the earth,” said Sr. Patricia Kirk, Prioress at Emmanuel Monastery.

Under the leadership of Eileen and Allan Straughan, Koolhof Earth engages in projects designed to reduce human impact on the earth’s vital natural resources, including clean water, clean air and healthy ecosystems necessary to support all forms of life. The nonprofit organization aims to restore these resources by reducing past environmental impacts and promoting future environmental stewardship. Past projects have included installing rain gardens, restoring urban streams, and improving the energy efficiency of old buildings.

 “Koolhof Earth is a powerful and unique organization because it has strong, passionate leaders and is committed to executing environmental restoration projects with its own money. We don’t just talk about it, but we take action at our own expense, setting the example and showing others how it can be done,” said Koolhof Earth board member Bruce Crawford.

Ultimately, the organization hopes to change the overall message about how to achieve environmental sustainability. “What makes Koolhof Earth unique is our gentle approach to going green, instead of being chastising or overly aggressive. We’re warm and educating and inviting, and we’d much rather lead by example,” Straughan summarized.

The inaugural Koolhof Earth Give Back Gala on February 27 is being presented in partnership with Interfaith Power & Light, which supports green initiatives at hundreds of Maryland faith communities. Tickets to the event are currently on sale at www.koolhofearth.org.

Since 2009, Koolhof Earth’s mission has been to inspire and educate individuals, businesses and communities. The group aims to reverse the adverse effects of human activities on our earth and preserve and restore its natural resources for future generations. For more information on Koolhof Earth and the inaugural Give Back Gala, please visit www.koolhofearth.org. Koolhof Earth can also be found on Facebook at www.facebook.com/KoolhofEarth​.

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For media coverage on Koolhof Earth and/or the inaugural Give Back Gala, please contact Hayley Bowerman, communications coordinator, at 410-446-5696 or [email protected].