The LSU Foundation is preparing to launch the Green Tiger Project — an effort to beautify campus and promote environmental sustainability. The program is spearheaded by Jeff McLain, LSU Foundation vice president for development, and Jan Martin, wife of the University’s Chancellor, and focuses on fundraising and increasing student awareness about the University’s nearly 100-year-old campus. “It’s a way for our students and community to take pride in our campus,” Martin said. “Even by just picking up a piece of litter now and again.” Martin and McLain presented plans for the project Tuesday to representatives from the Bengal Belles, a local group that raises money and garners support for University academics and student athletes.  McLain said the Green Tiger Project creates an “umbrella” over new and       existing programs. The existing programs include the Endow an Oak program, which has raised more than $725,000 since its inception 16 years ago, and the Enhancing the Core Program, which has raised money through a $1 environmental impact fee on football and basketball tickets to visually improve areas on and near campus like the Northgate area, Coates Hall parking lot and landscaping outside the Journalism Building. Paw Pride is one of the new programs. McLain said each month a volunteer for the Green Tiger Project will search for students, staff and faculty members on campus picking up trash or helping with campus beautification. The volunteer will surprise the person with a gift card to the LSU Bookstore and a Green Tiger T-shirt. “The idea is to recognize and reward student, faculty and staff efforts to keep our campus beautiful,” McLain said. A Student Arbor Day celebration is also being planned, as well as the establishment of the Campus Beautification Fund. “Until recently, there was no avenue for someone to make an unrestricted gift to simply help with campus beautification,” McLain said. “Now they can with the CBF.”McLain said the Chancellor’s Office will work with the Office of Facility Services to determine what projects the donations go toward, like landscaping, lake restorations and river-front development. The LSU Foundation will begin selling a $20 LSU ornament at football games and areas around campus soon, with all proceeds going toward the CBF. The Green Tiger program will focus heavily on recycling and sustainability efforts across campus, McLain said. University Sustainability Manager Denise Scribner and the Campus Committee for Sustainability will have a large presence in the program. “Sustainability has to do with value choices, and now LSU community, friends and alumni can take pride in helping to accelerate the ‘greening’ of our campus,” Scribner said in an e-mail to The Daily Reveille. “I’m excited about the Green Tiger Project, which will integrate campus beautification and sustainability.” Keeping budgetary concerns in mind, McLain said the Green Tiger Program will not require new employees, but will rather consolidate efforts on campus and encourage private support.————Contact Kyle Bove at [email protected]