Community Philanthropy Awards: Clear Blue Commercial, Petaluma

In the words of David Rayall, Sonoma County Water Agency coordinator for environmental services, Clear Blue is a leader in community philanthropy by demonstrating that a commercial business has the ability and accepts the responsibility to give back to the community and help sustain our planet.

The company helped save 2.6 million gallons of water annually in a massive volunteer effort. Through a two-year water-conservation program called Mulchstock, Clear Blue coordinated activities by the business community, nonprofits such as Daily Acts, city of Petaluma, the water agency and a multitude of environmentally conscious citizens.

“This outside the box thinking by Clear Blue President and Managing Director Carolyn Pistone and her staff, shows how businesses can lead the way in achieving conservation efforts of the magnitude necessary as we move into an uncertain future with potential for a scarce water supply,” Rayall said.

Clear Blue Commercial is a progressive, property-management firm dedicated to green real estate practices and environmental leadership throughout the San Francisco Bay Area.

“We are sustaining members of Daily Acts and committed to donating $5,000 over the next five years to this nonprofit,” Pistone said. “We created and produce Mulchstock, which encompasses six different water saving turf conversion projects over a two-year period.”

Beyond its ongoing water conservation action and support, the company has committed 5 percent of its profits and 5 percent of paid employee hours to environmental stewardship and community volunteerism.

Clear Blue offers an employer match to its employees’ charitable contributions.

“We are a certified Bay Area Green Business, a certified woman-owned business and are in the process of becoming a certified B corporation,” Pistone said. “All of these are huge commitments for a company of fewer than 10 employees and less than 2 years old.”

Clear Blue employees raised money and participated as a team in the 2014 and 2015 American Lung Association Heart Walk. They also took the Ice Bucket Challenge to obtain donations and increase awareness of a local child suffering from brain cancer.

The firm donated $1,000-plus to the Petaluma Community Foundation, where Pistone served on the board for three years. She is also a founding board member and sponsor of 100 Sonoma County People Who Care.

In addition, Clear Blue serves on the environmental committee of the Sonoma County Alliance, is a multiyear sponsor of the Sustainable Enterprise Conference, is part of the Climate Action 2020 Stakeholders Advisory Group for Sonoma County and is an “ecoleader” with Fellows in Leadership for a Sustainable Future.