T.G.I.F. – Turn Grease Into Fuel--Finalist in the @15 Community Impact Challenge

Introducing T.G.I.F. – Turn Grease Into Fuel from Westerly, RI. T.G.I.F. – Turn Grease Into Fuel is one of the 15 finalists in the @15 Community Impact Challenge.




T.G.I.F—Turning Grease into Fuel, a project of the Westerly Innovations Network, aims to recycle used cooking oil into biodiesel to help heat needy peoples’ homes through the harsh New England winters. Instead of other expensive and fossil fuel-emitting alternatives, TGIF promotes bio-fuel. They have worked with various biodiesel companies to create a sustainable system: TGIF signs up restaurants to give them used cooking oil, restaurants process the oil and donate a portion to local charitable agencies, which then distribute the oil to the families for heating assistance. With sixty-five restaurants from two states and eight towns participating in the project, TGIF can generate 30,000 gallons of biodiesel per year. They have so far distributed 3,000 gallons of Bioheat® to three local charitable organizations and helped more than two dozen families by providing them with emergency heating assistance.




If selected as a Challenge recipient, WIN and TGIF would be able to increase the reach of their oil recycling program and help communities in other towns establish their own student community service teams to spread their project. Such activities require funding for extensive campaigning and advertising. To expand the reach of their residential oil recycling program, TGIF would use the funding to install 5 more waste cooking oil receptacles. In addition, TGIF would target fundraising savvy and locally connected Parent Teacher Organizations, traveling around New England to present the project to PTOs and explain the benefits.














Between March 15 - April 2, 2010, you get to decide which five of the 15 finalist teams of young social entrepreneurs will each receive $5,000 and which five teams will receive $1,500 each to expand their local ventures. So be sure to cast your vote on at15 between March 15 - April 2, 2010.