Hiya, gum chums!

It is my distinct pleasure to introduce you to Robin Organ, Executive Director and Founder of greenschools!

Robin’s non-profit organization aims to create greener and healthier learning environments through education and awareness. With educational programs and resources for students, teachers, administrators and community members, greenschools highlights the connection between healthy bodies and a healthy planet. How great is that?

Robin was a teacher for more than a decade and, through painful experiences of her own, came to the conclusion that environmental education was much needed. She and her two young children suffered from allergies and illnesses which she believed were related to the environment. She began working with parents and the teachers in her daughter’s school to address the subjects of air quality, reducing children’s exposures to environmental toxins, healthy snacking, green fundraising, student activism, and more.  

Soon, more and more schools were requesting the programming! Today, greenschools has worked with close to 100 schools and fields requests from all over the country. Robin reports, “We have literally saved thousands of pounds of trash, reduced energy bills, CHANGED SCHOOL POLICIES, opened children’s eyes to what they can do to create a healthier planet, connected students to numerous service projects, and on a personal note, we got the health of our girls back without all of the medications and surgeries that were once needed. This work is extremely gratifying and it fills my soul!”

This fall, the organization is launching a Membership Program, taking their Student Ambassador Program national, and busily booking presentations, conferences, and events. To learn more about the wonderful work they do, check out their website, find them on Facebook, follow them on Twitter, or email them at info@projectgreenschools.org!

Looking for free Glee? Hey, who wouldn’t be?

Well, look no further, gum chums of mine. You could win 80 packs of Glee Gum PLUS 3 Candy Kits in the WE ADD UP Climate Action Giveaway! Not to mention, over $30,000 in other fabulous green prizes. Check it out!

Here’s the scoop, straight from the horse’s mouth:

“Want America to be a Climate Leader? Need a little added inspiration to get involved? Make history with us and be entered to win in the World’s Biggest Green Sweepstakes! When you sign up to win from hundreds of green prizes from your favorite companies, you will also receive a weekly email with a simple and easy call to action.  350.0rg, 1Sky, and our other non-profit partners will tell you what to do.   Collectively, we’re going to add up to big change.  And, it’s just about time, too.  World leaders are meeting in Copenhagen in December to hopefully come to an international agreement on the world-wide reduction of greenhouse gas emissions.  If America is going to truly be a leader, our leaders need to hear from us now.  So, let’s realize our power and show that we add up.  There will be over 230 winners in the Climate Action Giveaway and each prize will help you lead a more sustainable lifestyle.  Enter to Win today!”

Click here to read more about this giveaway, watch a YouTube video on the subject, and see all the great green stuff that could be YOURS! ALL YOURS!

In the meantime, have a wonderful weekend!

Gum chums, apologies for the delay in sending this amazing news your way! Now, I will waste no more time in telling you of a sweepstakes most sublime! 

No doubt you’ve heard about “Glee“, the hottest new show on TV. Because the show is oh so neat (with a name that can’t be beat), Glee Gum is thrilled to join FOX in offering a chance to win a prize in every box!

There are 11 winning tickets in all, so look inside EACH box you buy this fall! You could win swell prize packs of Glee Gum and “Glee” show gear, or the GRAND PRIZE- a trip for two to Hollywood! What cheer!

Here are some of the details, and you can read more here on our site. Now who’s ready to win? Count me in, all right!

YOUR TICKET TO GLEE!

When: September 23, 2009 to December 23, 2009

Where: Inside 11 select Glee Gum boxes,distributed across the U.S.

What: Grand prize of a trip for two to Hollywood! Includes roundtrip air transportation, two nights hotel accommodation, and a $250 American Express gift card.

What Else: 10 fabulous runner-up prize packages of Glee Gum and “Glee” show merchandise. Prizes include a “Glee” cap, bag, tee shirt, and autographed cast photo, as well as assorted flavors of Glee Gum, Wee Glee, a Mini Glee Variety, and a Make Your Own Chewing Gum Kit.

For More Info and Complete, Official Sweepstakes Rules, Click Here.

GLEE™ & © 2009 Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation. All Rights Reserved.

Greetings, gum chews. What news, what news!

School is back in session, and we’ve got a brand new product for teachers. Looking to spice up Science class? How about Spanish or History? Try the (drumroll, please…) Educator’s Guide to Gum! 

The super spiffy Educator’s Guide to Gum includes the Make Your Own Gum Kit, a documentary film about the harvest of chicle, sample lesson plans, supplemental essays, a history of chewing gum, and more. To read all about it- and order your very own package- click here!

Next, a fantastic wedding favor idea: Glee! Three lucky brides-to-be can each win 80 Mini Glee Gum packs at the “Fun Favor- Glee Gum Giveaway” on BridalScoop.com. Whatta great, green way to impress guests!

I’ve got more news to share next week, but in the meantime– here’s a sneak peek. A new contest could send you to La La Land! Yup, that’s what I’ve got planned. A trip to Hollywood just by chewing Glee? It could happen — trust me! Plus, product reviews galore, and lots, lots more. Tune in next week to see what’s in store!

Ciao for now, gum chums!

Hiya, gum chums!

Have you heard about the new TV show with the best title ever? Here at Glee Gum, we can’t wait for the “Glee” series premiere Wednesday, September 9 (9/8 c) on FOX!  And clearly, neither can scores of fans!   

So where can all those enthusiastic “Glee” fans, otherwise known as gleeks, find the best place online to gleek out? GleeForum.com provides all the latest news, spoilers, pictures, interviews, music, and videos for everything “Glee.” Established on May 7th of this year, GleeForum.com gets bigger and better every day. And be sure to follow the related Twitter account for contests, promotions and more- including an upcoming, exclusive Glee Gum giveaway!

Okay, gleeks. Only eight days to wait!

Dear Glee Gum…

Letters that begin this way nearly always have something sweet to say. This latest included photos too. So dear were they, I thought I’d share them with you!

Lori M. of Pennsylvania heard about our Make Your Own Candy Kits in an email from Suzanne B., the columnist of DearReader.com. Suzanne tried the Candy Kits with a visiting grand-daughter, and here’s what she reported:

So Lori felt inspired to give them a try too! She writes:

… As we were going camping with our grand-daughters in less than two weeks, I rushed home from work and checked out your website.  You see, both of the girls LOVE gum – all kinds – bubble, chewing, sticks, powders, squares, sweet, sour, minty, fruity… you name it, they’ll chew it.  I bought your  ’Make Your Own Chewing Gum’ kit and waited with crossed fingers that it would arrive in time.  Amazingly, I had it in my hands in less than a week! 

This past weekend, we went camping and each night we had a special treat – shake-a-pudding night, S’mores night, ice cream night and, saving the best for last, chewing gum-making night.  The directions scared me at first, it seemed like there were lots of ways for me to mess up this experience, but it was very simple to make – even in the close confines of our 24-year-old RV.  We started by reading the story of Eduardo and his tapping of the trees in the rainforest and ended with some great chewing gum that the girls were really proud to have made!  They even saved some of it to bring home and share with family!  Not only was it fun- but it gave them a ‘hidden’ lesson in science, math, social studies and ‘being green’.  I’m attaching pictures to show you just how much they enjoyed their experience.

Lori's grand-daughters, aged 6 and 3, kneading gum with their dad

Zowie and Rylie, looking Glee-ful!

We just wanted to thank Glee for giving us the ingredients to make the gum and for helping us to environmentally enlighten our granddaughters.  Also, thanks to Suzanne at Dear Reader for introducing us to you!  We’re looking forward to making gummy bears on our next adventure!

- Lori M.

Gum chums, please feel free to take Lori’s lead. Send me something delightful to read! In the meantime, I’ll sign off. (To go check my  inbox, *cough cough*!)

In search of free Glee? Hey, who wouldn’t be?

Well, look no further, gum chums of mine! I know of TWO Glee giveaways. How divine!

For info on the first, stop by the fabulous Rita A.’s blog, “One 2 Try.” But hurry, hurry! I’ll tell you why. The deadline is Aug 22nd at 9:00 PM PT, no lie!

For info on the second, visit the lovely Lena’s blog, “Over Coffee- the Green Edition.” More chances to chew free Glee– just what you were wishin’! But again I must say, don’t delay. The Aug 23rd deadline only buys you one more day!

Does my rhyming seem a touch askew? If true, this fact may be due to the fact that it’s awful warm here, with cool breezes few. What’s a giant-headed gum mascot to do? Wait, I know. I’ll find a bit of refreshing Spearmint Glee to chew. Cheerio, toodle-oo!

Hear ye, hear ye, gum chums.

It’s good to be king, as we all know. But it’s even better to be a green one! 

Check out this swell article by Vanessa Kerr on Grist.org: “10 Green Royals.”

It may just renew your faith in the ruling class!

For example, didja know that Queen Elizabeth II of England planted a chemical-free vegetable garden on the grounds of Buckingham Palace and installed a mini hydroelectric power plant for Windsor Castle? Say wha-? ‘Tis true!

And didja hear how the U.N. Environment Program named Prince Hassan Bin Talal of Jordan the 2007 Champion of the Earth (!!) for his efforts on behalf of renewable energy and conservation?

You can read all about them, and the work of other titled environmental advocates, right here. And thanks to Vanessa Kerr for reminding me that it’s not all cream puffs and silver spoons at the top. There’s room for green do-gooding too!

Greetings, candy comrades!

I know I’ve been remiss in writing. But in my defense, it’s REALLY HARD to type while jumping for joy!

Apparently, nobody else on the Internet shares this problem. They’re all busily typing up a storm!

Here is a small selection of recent clips, posts and news articles on my favorite subject… GLEE! 

“Sweet Old World,” Katharine Weber’s July 14 article in Tablet Magazine, explores the origins of American candy- including Glee, yippee! 

Stuck on an idea for a new Glee Gum slogan, like me? Check out Over Coffee – the Green Edition. Blogger Lena’s son came up with a good one!

Meanwhile, our friend Jennifer Mathews’ book, Chicle, keeps getting great press. On NPR.org, you can read an interview with the author and a book excerpt !

Expectant moms with morning sickness may find this post at Naptime Writing familiar, helpful – or at least good for a giggle. Who knew gum could help the tum?

Speaking of moms, check out what Green & Clean Mom keeps in her eco-chic handbag. It’s the same sweet stuff recommended by the fine folks at Blog O’ USA , Living Healthy in the Real World, and Wellsphere’s Celiac Disease Community.  

Not to be out-done, the Candy Kits get a shout-out too. Thanks to Beth Kimmerle’s Candymonium for this fun post following New York’s Fancy Food Show. 

Have a great weekend, gum chums, and happy reading!

I have a confession, gum chews.

Sometimes I feel the need to crow.

You may be familiar with a pretty witty ditty on that very subject from the musical Peter Pan… “I Gotta Crow!” Er er er errrrrrr! No? Oh.

Other times, I feel the urge to twist and shout. Or sing out loud. Or maybe even toot my own horn. OFTEN. It’s great! 

But I can honestly say, as your humble chewing gum mascot, I have never, ever chirped or tweeted. That is, not until I got my very own TWITTER ACCOUNT!

It’s true, it’s true! Now I’m tweeting up a storm.

Granted I’m never entirely sure I’m doing it right. So come join me, and we can tweet together! You can find me at Twitter.com/gleeguy. 

Now if you’ll excuse me, I gotta TWEET! Tweet tweet tw- tweet…