CLEVELAND, OHIO - Each year the Burning River Foundation, a philanthropy effort created by the Great Lakes Brewing Company, hosts the Burning River Fest.  Baldwin Wallace University is a main partner with the organization as student interns are faced with the task of recruiting volunteers to assist in the recycling efforts at the festival.

The Burning River Fest is an ecofest that celebrates Cleveland's sustainable efforts.  Since the burning of the Cuyahoga River in 1969, Cleveland had made great strides towards a more sustainable city and this is its chance to celebrate its efforts each year.  Examples of the sustainable efforts include the usage of Corn Cups.  The cups are made of corn starch which allows for the cups to be composted rather than thrown into a landfill.  All the eating utensils, napkins, cups, and even food will be composted at the event in order to achieve a 90% waste diversion from the landfill which will make the Burning River Fest a waste-free festival.

This year,  junior midfielder Eric Sokol (Burrell, Pa.) of BW's men's soccer team was the events recycling coordinator.  He worked to recruit more than 100 volunteers for the event.  Of the 100 volunteers, many of them are Yellow Jacket student-athletes. There were representatives from almost all teams which will make for a great BW presence at the event.

The event will take place from 6:00-11:00 pm on Friday, July 26 and Saturday, July 27.  For more information visit the Burning River Fest website at http://www.burningriverfoundation.org.

FOR MORE BW SPORTS INFORMATION, please contact Sports Information Director Kevin Ruple by telephone at 440-826-2327 and e-mail at kruple@bw.edu or Assistant SID Jeff Miller by phone at 440-826-2780 and e-mail at jefmille@bw.edu. Fans can access the latest BW athletics information at www.bw.edu/athletics and we invite you to join us on Twitter at http://twitter.com/bwathletics.