The newly created Savannah Chatham Sustainability Coalition (SCSC) non-profit organization announces that is has been formed with a mission "to produce local sustainable events, including the annual Earth Day Festival," a spokesperson says.

SCSC "champions the integration of sustainable principles within our partner municipalities and their community organizations. SCSC will collaborate with the environmental, social, health, educational and economic sectors on issues that affect everyone," the organization says.

The new non-profit will assist in raising funds to expand and grow its largest annual event, the Earth Day Festival. This event is "a celebration of environmentally responsible living and business practices in coastal Georgia focusing on education and activism. Sponsorships and donations to SCSC in support of its events and programming will be tax deductible for all persons and businesses participating," SCSC says.

The organization will be led by Joanne Morton, Festival Director and will have three additional team members: Cynthia Hopson, Erin Sheahan and Kathryn Shelton.

The SCSC Board's nine founding members are:

Timothy Arnold- Founder of Tybee Clean Beach Volunteers

Laura Douglass- Artist, Cosmic Corner Savannah

Lisa Garneau Doyle- Owner, Gypsy World Savannah

Matthew Grady- Motivational Speaker

Rob Hessler- Artist, Co-Chair of the Parkside Neighborhood Association

Robert Kiser- Owner at C-Port Mushroom Project

Elizabeth Rhaney- Artist, Emergent Savannah

George Seaborough- Coordinator for Citizen Advocacy

Cami Sockow- Center for Sustainability Program Coordinator, Georgia Southern University.