First Lady O'Malley Kicks Off 2008 National Healthy Homes Festival
Three-day event promotes Enviro-friendly practices in the home
BALTIMORE, MD (September 12, 2008) – First Lady Katie O’Malley today helped to kick-off the 2008 National Healthy Homes Festival in Baltimore City, and joined Baltimore City Council President Stephanie Rawlings-Blake, Baltimore City Health Commissioner Joshua Sharfstein, the Coalition to End Childhood Lead Poisoning and other local officials for a ribbon-cutting at the Healthy Homes Pavilion in Druid Hill Park.
“I am proud to help kick-off the 2008 National Healthy Homes Festival in Baltimore city,” said First Lady Katie O’Malley. “Educating our families and children about home based environmental hazards is vital to keeping our children and families safe. I encourage all families to learn about the steps they can take to make their home environmentally healthy.”
The three-day festival is designed to educate Baltimore area families, contractors, property owners and national visitors on ways to reduce home-based environmental health hazards such as lead, mold, allergens, pests, rodents, proper air ventilation and structural defects) that injure and poison children, families and the elderly.
The First Lady was joined by over 700 elementary and middle school students from Baltimore City Public Schools. Today’s activities at the festival were focused on Baltimore area school children and programs at the five area universities engaged in public health and environmental justice issues. Saturday is geared towards “Do-it yourselfers,” contractors, homeowners and the Hispanic community, and Sunday will serve as Family Day. Projected attendance for the three day festival is 5,000-10,000 people.
Partners in the National Healthy Homes Festivals are the Coalition to End Childhood Lead Poisoning, the Governor’s Office of Community Initiatives, the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, the Department of Housing and Community Development and the Maryland Department of the Environment. For more information visit www.leadsafe.org/festival or call 1-800-370-5323.
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