For Immediate Release
Contact: Pam Wall
919-840-7372, ext 16
November 03, 2005

Triangle Tomorrow Introduces Triangle Air Mascot, Web Site

RESEARCH TRIANGLE REGION, N.C. (NOV. 3, 2005) - Triangle Tomorrow has developed and introduced the first clean air mascot for children ages 5-8 in the 13-county Research Triangle Region, and launched a Web site with comprehensive information about clean air issues and strategies.

The mascot and Web site are part of Triangle Tomorrow's Triangle Air Awareness Program.

"Clair, the Clean Air Explorer, is a spunky pre-teen girl who will travel around the region looking for clean air clues," says Triangle Tomorrow Executive Director Pam Wall. "We hope Clair and our new Web site will help raise awareness among residents of all ages about the issues of air quality facing our region and what they can do to help improve it."

The Web site is designed as a clearinghouse for air-quality information. It offers information on air-quality events, strategies or improving air quality, and a sign-up for daily e-mail ozone forecasts.

Clair and other educational materials for the program were underwritten with a grant from GlaxoSmithKline (GSK).

"GSK saw Clair as an opportunity to fill a gap in our region to educate children in this age range about air quality, its health effects and how they can help keep the air clean," said Mary Linda Andrews, director of GSK's NC Community Partnerships. "It fits hand in hand with our foundation's mission to promote children's health."

Meanwhile, Triangle Tomorrow and the Triangle Air Awareness Program is seeking input from residents, especially children, to help pick a clean air "critter" for Clair. Residents can visit the Web site on Nov. 30 through March to vote for one of three critters and a critter name. Clair's new sidekick will be announced at a special event in the spring.

The mascots will be available for public appearances and programs in the spring of 2006. Triangle Tomorrow is also developing a Clair and critter video for use in schools, churches, camps and children's events for spring distribution.

The Triangle Air Awareness Program, launched with a grant from the North Carolina Division of Air Quality, aims to educate and mobilize individuals and organizations to be aware of the air-quality forecast, to improve air quality by the choice of their actions, and to protect their health on bad air-quality days. It is managed by Triangle Tomorrow, a program of the Research Triangle Regional Partnership.

For more information on the program, contact Triangle Tomorrow at (919) 840-7372, extension 16.