[EPA press release - January 28, 1974]

Julie Nixon Eisenhower, Russell E. Train, Administrator of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, and E. Robert Kinney, President of General Mills, Inc., will kick off a public service campaign on the environment Thursday, January 31.

General Mills is a national producer of food and other consumer and industrial products based in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

Citations will be presented to Mr. Kinney on behalf of President Nixon and EPA at a 1:30 p.m. ceremony in the EPA Visitors Center, first floor, West Tower, 401 M Street S.W., Washington, D.C.

In a letter from the President to be presented by his daughter, Julie, General Mills is commended for an environmental education project it is undertaking with EPA. More than 60 million boxes of eleven General Mills children's cereals will carry display panels offering a free 16-page EPA educational booklet.

The book, "Fun With the Environment," was created by EPA for four to twelve year olds. It teaches children through stories, puzzles and games, the concept of "environment," effects of pollution, and ways children can help improve their environment.

The President also notes in his letter that General Mills provided a similar public service campaign on drug abuse education for the Justice Department a year ago, which resulted in the distribution of 500,000 books.

Mr. Train, on behalf of EPA, will present Mr. Kinney with a large, framed plaque made up of the "Fun With the Environment," educational materials.

The "Fun" book can also serve as a way for children to become involved in the "President's Environmental Merit Awards Program (PEMAP), an EPA administered program which encourages young people to undertake independent environmental improvement projects. In addition, the book contains a further offer for a free "environmental fun kit" consisting of a decal, poster, reading list and bumper sticker.

The General Mills Big "G" cereals carrying the free book offer will be available nationwide this month.