MCHS Student Keeping it Clean

Charles OrgBon

Sophomore, Mill Creek High School

Accomplishment: Charles OrgBon is the founder and CEO of Greening Forward, an environmental organization which helps communities understand and implement sustainable practices. OrgBon, 15, founded the organization when he was 12 and in seventh grade.

Key To Success: Mill Creek sophomore Charles OrgBon possesses an uncanny business sense, attention to detail, and understanding of strategic practices that has led him to creating an immensely successful youth-oriented environmental organization. But despite these traits, OrgBon says his passion and enthusiasm are what has helped him create Greening Forward.

OrgBon started the group in 2008 as a website titled Recycling Education and has overseen his site develop into a fully operational charitable organization which aims to reach as many people as possible to educate about environmental practices and help in their implementation.

One of Greening Forward’s most important initiatives is extending Earth Savers Clubs to schools throughout the country. These clubs start in schools and address local environmental concerns. Then by acting on those issues, the full community can get involved.

“We call that the Pioneer Program, because when we go into a community that’s where we start,” OrgBon said.

As a group that is run almost primarily by youth, Greening Forward has taken a youth-based approach in the communities it serves. By developing communication all over the country among Earth Savers Clubs, OrgBon said Greening Forward members can learn about issues nationwide.

“We support them through our national network, so not only do we provide them those resources, but also step back a little and let the youth in California know what the youth in Georgia are doing, and teach Georgia what the youth in Michigan are doing.”

With such a successful first few years, OrgBon said he is optimistic for Greening Forward and the outreach his group will continue to have. He said he would like to eventually see his organization have a full-time staff, some office space, and even a full conference in Atlanta, but in order to do that he will need to maintain the same ambition he had as a 12-year-old student who wanted to clean up his community.

“I’m very optimistic and ambitious,” OrgBon said. “Our team of volunteer staff people, our youth council leaders, and our board members are just as energetic and ready to make this work.”

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