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California woman wins Hickory Springs' EarthCare Challenge

Laura Dillon went from ‘eco-oblivious' to ‘eco-chic'

Furniture Today Staff -- Furniture Today, January 27, 2010

LAS VEGAS — The winner of Hickory Springs' EarthCare Challenge will pick out furniture at next week's Las Vegas Market as her reward for winning the contest.

After 45 days of photos, tweets and videos and an average of more than 500 weekly fan votes on Facebook, Hickory Springs announced that Laura Dillon of San Bernardino, Calif., is the challenge winner.

Dillon, a hairstylist by day, went from "eco-oblivious" to "eco-chic," besting five other contestants to win the national competition, the company said.

She will visit the market Tuesday, Feb. 2, where she will get to "shop" the market for her grand prize - a collection of EarthCare Inside home furnishings from Craftmaster Furniture, with a retail value of up to $5,000.

Taking place entirely on the Internet on social networking communities Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and EarthCareInside.com, the EarthCare Challenge documented the challenges of six everyday consumers as they abandoned their old ways and adopted eco-friendly upgrades to their home and lifestyle.

"Our congratulations go out to Laura and all of our contestants who shared their personal journeys," said Hickory Springs Executive Vice President Dwayne Welch. "The contest showed how simple decisions whether small (turning off lights) or big (opting for solar panels or a high-efficiency toilet), can really get people talking and inspire positive change."

Dillon banned her family's daily habit of using paper plates, started a recycling regimen in her home, found eco-alternatives to items such as gift wrap, beauty products and lighting, and began riding her bicycle to the market. She also started a vegetable garden in her backyard.

Announced last October, the EarthCare Challenge followed the 45-day makeovers of six national finalists beginning Dec. 1. Family, friends and social media users around the world participated by becoming a fan of the contest on Facebook and voting for their favorite contestant in exchange for a shot at weekly giveaways.

Guiding the contestants were three experts on green lifestyle, diet and home: Cindy Ojczyk, owner of Simply Green Design and co-owner of Verified Green; Michael Anschel, owner of Otogawa-Anschel Design-Build and co-founder of Verified Green; and Amy Todisco, green lifestyle coach and owner of GreenLivingNow.com.

The contest highlighted EarthCare Inside, which combines Hickory Springs' soy-based Preserve foam with other recycled and sustainable components. The products can be found in furniture from manufacturers including Alan White, Craftmaster, England and H.M. Richards.

For more information on the Hickory Springs EarthCare Challenge, visit www.earthcareinside.com and click on "Take the Challenge."

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EarthCare Challenge winner chooses Craftmaster furniture

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