Earth Month (April) Award Winner Announced for Most Improved Collections
Straus News Wins ACE Foundation Most Improved Earth Month Award
The Advanced Climate Education Foundation is proud to recognize Straus News as the Most Improved Winner in our 2026 Earth Month Challenge.
During April, Straus News increased its textile collections by an impressive 148.7%, earning the top spot in the challenge’s improvement category.
What makes the story even better is that Straus News was not even on the leaderboard earlier in the month. Then came a late push that changed everything.
According to the Straus team, one of the keys was a simple and effective idea: they ran a house ad in the newspaper serving Chester and Goshen during the final two weeks of the month. The result was a meaningful jump in collections and a good reminder that advertising works and local newspapers make a difference.
Straus was also quick to acknowledge that the nicer spring weather probably helped after a rough January, February, and March. Fair enough. Still, better weather alone does not create a 148.7% increase. That kind of improvement takes attention, follow-through, and a willingness to promote the effort.
In recognition of that achievement, the Advanced Climate Education Foundation will provide a $250 award to Straus News.
This is exactly the kind of success Earth Month is meant to inspire: a local organization using its own platform to engage the community, increase participation, and help keep more reusable textiles out of the waste stream.
Congratulations to Becca Tucker, Robin Robinson, and the entire Straus News team on a creative and well-earned win.
