THREE RIVERS AREA — Riley Hoffer had plenty to celebrate for her 13th birthday.
One month after becoming a teenager in October, the seventh-grader from Cabot was one of five youth given a U.S. Green Building Council Youth Leadership Award for 2009. She was also named November Teen of the Month by Pottery Barn Teen.
Hoffer was recognized for her work through CG Kidz, a nonprofit she founded when she was 11.Through the business’ Web site, Cgkidz.com, she is an eco entrepreneur reaching an audience she can easily relate to - other kids.
“Kids listen to other kids, and that’s one of the reasons why I did this,” she said.
She became Earth conscious when her parents, Danelle and Joe Hoffer, started Cynergreen, a company focused on manufacturing and supplying products with a low impact on the planet.Through Cynergreen, their daughter learned how plastic bottles don’t get recycled and how they are made from oil.
“Plastic is really harmful to your body with all the BPA and oil, so I needed to get that out there,” the teen said. “As
kids, we really need to do something
about our future so we don’t end up liv
ing in a landfill.” With her parents’ help, Hoffer started
her Web site, which she manages, blogs
on and uses to share tips on the three
R’s: Recycle, Reduce and Reuse.
As an ambassador for CG Kidz, Hof
fer has taken her message to schools
throughout the country, holding interac
tive assemblies, where she talks about
recycling, why plastic bottles shouldn’t be
used and about just being positive.
Hoffer also designed an eco-friendly
stainless-steel water bottle named Ri
ley. She also serves as the face of the
Arkansas Earth Day Kids Foundation
for 2010.
In April, she’ll head to the John F. Ken
nedy Center for the Performing Arts in
Washington, D.C., for a Youth Speaks
event to represent kids across the coun
try and share her environmental mes
sage. She and her class are also planning
a Party with a Purpose to coincide with
Arkansas Earth Day.
Hoffer would like to do more in 2010
- have more interaction with the U.S.
Green Building Council, give more talks at
schools and, hopefully, win more awards.
“That would be pretty cool,” she said.
Family: Mom; Daddy; five dogs,
Bella, Jasmine, Lily, Coco and Max;
and one cat, Kitty Birthplace: Knoxville, Tenn.
Hidden talents: I can cook. I’m better at baking. I like to bake cookies. Peanut butter cookies are my favorite.
Favorite TV show: Heroes One thing you want to accomplish in life but haven’t yet: I want to be on
Broadway some day. My favorite Broadway play is Hairspray.
Most proud of: My U.S. Green
Building Industry Council Youth Leadership Award - all the
work we’ve done this past year is finally getting recognized.
Favorite quote: “Hate stirs up
dissension, but love conquers all wrongs.” - Proverbs 10:12
Three Rivers, Pages 136 on 01/31/2010