Clay Hill offers first-of-its-kind Eco initiative with prizes in excess of $40,000

YORK - Clay Hill Farm's unique new concept The Green Wedding Giveaway Contest was launched by celebrity relationship expert, Steve Santagati, on Sept. 25. 

Clay Hill Farm's Green Wedding Giveaway, www.greenweddinggiveaway.com, is a contest of commitment. Couples are encouraged to explore the parallel of a commitment to each other and a commitment to the earth. Couples are asked to submit a play, a poem, a painting, or a song, along with a two-minute video or a photograph and essay that creatively answers the contest question and demonstrates an understanding of the contest message. We are all green in some way. Pick your shade and shout it to the world. Applications for the Green Wedding Giveaway, contest rules and complete details are available online at www.greenweddinggiveaway.com. Engaged couples must complete their online applications and mail their entries on a CD or DVD to the contest address by Dec. 31.

"I am the last person to talk positively about getting married," said Santagati, New York Times best-selling author of "The Manual" and a TV celebrity relationship expert. "Most people are not fully aware of the commitment it takes to make a marriage work for the long haul. However, I've discovered that people who are aware of matrimonial reality are usually aware of other things as well; safe driving, health, and yes, the environment. Is an environmentally conscious couple more likely to take their commitments seriously?  I believe so. If I can be convinced that this marriage contest message has merit, anyone can."

Jennifer Lewis-McShera, founder of Clay Hill Farm's Green Wedding Giveaway Contest, stated, "With product prizes well over $40,000 and growing, Clay Hill Farm's Green Wedding Giveaway project is a positive green story within a green story."

The top-five semi-finalist couples in the contest will be decided by a panel of judges selected by Clay Hill Farm and will be revealed at a bridal fair in Portsmouth, N.H., on Jan. 11, 2009. The top-five semi-finalists must be present at the bridal fair to be in the running for the Grand Prize Wedding. After the semi-finalists are revealed, the public will vote and pick the winner via public ballots at www.greenweddinggiveaway.com. The couple receiving the most public votes will be crowned the winner of Clay Hill Farm's Green Wedding Giveaway contest and will be announced on Feb. 13, 2009, just in time for Valentine's Day.

he Green Wedding Giveaway will be a daytime wedding ceremony and reception held at Clay Hill Farm on June 21, 2009 - the Summer Solstice. Rehearsal dinner, ceremony, catered reception, flowers, hand-painted watercolor invitations, photography, DJ services, live cocktail music, cake, hybrid bridal transportation, spa services, organic beverages, tuxedo rentals, wedding suite and honeymoon week are all part of the Grand Prize package, with more sponsors joining every day.

In addition to the Grand Prize Wedding Package, the top-four semi-finalists will be awarded prize packages, and random prizes will be awarded to contestants and voters.

"We are really excited about our Green Wedding Giveaway Contest," said Lewis-McShera. "It is a great way to give back with a positive message of connectedness and empowerment. So much about green today is overwhelming and intimidating. How can we all fit in?  The truth is, we are all green in some way. So, pick your shade and shout it to the world. It's time to feel good about all that we do, commit to improvement and celebrate all contributions."