Mr. Almaraz has been a client of the INNOVATION CENTER since March 2011 and continues to develop his grassroots program to create respect, responsibility and action for our eco-system in early childhood.
Toby Globy started in 1991 as a simple eco-informative children’s song presented to the Corpus Christi Columbus Quincentennial celebration committee. The committee and officials at Padre Island National Seashore liked the song’s concept and encouraged Mr. Almaraz to develop an early childhood curriculum supplement in which the basis of the program would be the song. Then, he created an original program that includes a teacher’s guide, co-educational activities and other fun songs in (English and Spanish) packaged as a teacher’s kit of which were distributed to a few local schools by Padre Island National Seashore.
In 2004, Mr. Almaraz presented the program to the City of Laredo Environmental Services Department, which they deemed to be fun, educational and practical for early childhood. The department bought and implemented the “Toby Globy Eco Team” teacher kits for 60 elementary schools and day care centers within Laredo. This eco-educational initiative proved very successful and earned the City of Laredo the Governor’s TCEQ “2005 Texas Environmental Excellence Award”, in the education category.
Collaborators, partners, or entities endorsing the Toby Globy’ Eco Team program include: Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, Texas State Soil and Water Conservation Board, Texas Water Development Board, CITGO, and many state-wide municipalities.
Mr. Almaraz gives abundant credit to the INNOVATION CENTER and TAMU-CC for Toby Globy’s on-going success: “This program, its staff, and graduate assistants are awesome. They have helped me accelerate and improve the professionalism of the Toby Globy program, way beyond my expectations…Truly, wonderful people.”
The Corpus Christi Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, in the January 2014 issue of “VISION” Magazine, recognized Toby Globy for its outstanding business and commitment to Corpus Christi and various Texas communities.
To read the complete article: (Refer to Page 8 on Vision Magazine)
http://origin.library.constantcontact.com/download/get/file/1103542047269-1287/VISION_JAN_2014_WEB.pdf