Hello Viewers,

I just got out of an EWG Cleaners Database strategy meeting, and there was one question on everyone's mind - will we have the funds we need to finish the job?

As EWG's Director of Development it's up to me to make sure we have the support necessary to complete our cutting-edge research. That's why I am asking for your help right away.

Tomorrow I need to report back to Ken and the whole cleaners team to let them know if we made our goal and are on track to launch the database this fall. Can I count on you to help us raise the $25,737.50 we need before midnight tonight?

Click here to make your tax-deductible donation to EWG right now, before midnight tonight. If you donate $10 or more we'll send you our new Guide to Greener Cleaning free to say thank you.

We want to make sure we include as many products and brands as possible that you likely use at home. From oven cleaners to laundry detergent, EWG wants to make sure you have the information you need to make smarter choices.

When I walk into tomorrow's check-in, will you help me bring good news? We need $25,737.50 more before midnight tonight. We're so close - help us get over the edge.

Click here to make your tax-deductible donation before tonight's midnight deadline. If you donate $10 or more we'll send you our new Guide to Greener Cleaning free to say thank you.

Thank you for your support. We couldn't do all our important work, like developing the EWG Cleaners Database, without you.

Sincerely,

Jocelyn Lyle
Director of Development, Environmental Working Group

Hello Viewers,

EWG exists for one reason and one reason only: You.

That's why we're creating the incredible EWG Cleaners Database, so you can get the information you need to keep the most dangerous products out of your house.

The database is scheduled to be released this fall, and we're planning to include dozens of categories, about 2,000 cleaners and about 200 brands. But we're going to need your help to deliver.

We've got to raise $40,000 before midnight April 30 so we can include as many of the categories, products and brands you might use in your home as we can. Can I count on you to help us make this database the best, most robust resource possible? Give today and you'll get our Guide to Greener Cleaning, an incredible tool to help you figure out which ingredients and products to avoid.

Give to EWG right now and help us raise $40,000 by midnight April 30. With your donation, you'll get EWG's handy, portable Guide to Greener Cleaning so you know exactly what products to avoid.

We're now in the homestretch with the EWG Cleaners Database, and if we can stay on track it will cover the gamut - from air fresheners to dishwashing detergents to furniture polish. It'll have products for every room in your home and for everything that you clean. It'll have big brands, small brands and little-known local store brands. Best of all, the information provided will meet EWG's rigorous standards for quality and accuracy.

During our research, we've discovered some pretty shocking stuff. The main ingredient in a " naturally better" all-purpose cleaner actually reacts with the ozone to form a known carcinogen. And one drain clog remover warned about blindness, death and the product " violently erupting."

We've compiled some of the worst offenders into the Cleaners Hall of Shame to give you a heads up about what you need to look out for. But the launch of the complete database this fall will provide you with the most comprehensive information available. That is, if we make our goal of raising $40,000 by midnight April 30.

Click here to donate to EWG and help ensure this resource contains all the information you need to keep your family safe. You'll also get our Guide to Greener Cleaning to take with you when you shop.

Like I said, we're here for you. I hope you'll be here for us, too, so we can keep giving you the research you demand.

Sincerely,

Ken Cook
President, Environmental Working Group

Hello Viewers,

The film company behind An Inconvenient Truth, Food, Inc. and Waiting for " Superman" has done it again. A ground-breaking documentary about the state of American drinking water is scheduled to open May 4 in select theaters in New York and Los Angeles.

Click here to view the trailer for Last Call at the Oasis and for information on opening day screenings.

Illuminating the vital role water plays in our lives, exposing the defects in the current system and depicting communities already struggling with contamination, the film features activist Erin Brockovich and actor Jack Black. You won't want to miss seeing this documentary on opening day.

Click here for more information on screenings and to watch the trailer.

Hello Viewers,

Did you know that there is a vast array of nasty toxic chemicals in your home right now?

Where are they? They're sitting in your cabinets, under your sink and in your laundry room. They're the cleaning products you use every day. Household cleaners often contain carcinogens, chemicals that can cause asthma and chemicals so hazardous that they can be fatal if accidentally swallowed or inhaled in a concentrated form.

The good news is that with the right information, you can keep these dangerous products out of your home.

Because we know how much you care about your health and safety, the Environmental Working Group is giving you a tool to help you figure out which cleaning products don't belong in your house. The EWG Cleaners Hall of Shame provides you with the names of some of the worst offenders out there, so you can begin the process of purging your home of these harmful cleaners.

Click here to get an exclusive look at the EWG Cleaners Hall of Shame. This excellent tool lists some of the most hazardous products on the market, and we're not afraid to name names!

Many EWG supporters have asked us for help navigating this minefield, so I'm excited to announce that this fall we plan to release the EWG Cleaners Database. This incredible resource will help you find out if there are dangerous substances in the products you use and will offer alternatives to keep you safe.

The culprits can be found throughout your home, from the kitchen to the bathroom to the living room. That's why we've researched a wide variety of categories, including air fresheners, floor cleaners, dishwashing detergents, fabric softeners, furniture polish and much more. You'll find a wide range of products, from big name brands to local store brands.

For our in-depth research, we scoured public sources, company websites and technical information for workers. Our ratings consider ingredient hazards, product warnings, risk of exposure, environmental concerns and how much the company is willing to tell you about what its products contain.

Like our Skin Deep Cosmetics Database, Cell Phone Radiation Report and Shopper's Guide to Pesticides in Produce, the EWG Cleaners Database will be groundbreaking in its comprehensiveness and usability. To get an idea of what's in store, check out the Cleaners Hall of Shame today!

Click here to get an exclusive sneak peek at the EWG Cleaners Hall of Shame and start learning about the dangers of some of the cleaning products you might use in your home.

I've been working to protect consumers from harmful products for almost 20 years now, but what I've discovered about these cleaners still shocks me. I hope you'll take some time to learn the truth about the products you use so you can continue to keep your family safe.

Sincerely,

Ken Cook
President, Environmental Working Group

Hello Viewers,

I know you count on EWG's Shopper's Guide to Pesticides in Produce when deciding which fruits and vegetables to buy organic and which ones are ok to buy conventional. But EWG counts on the U.S. Department of Agriculture to publish complete, unbiased pesticide data to create our guide.

For the last two years, the pesticide lobby, especially a front group called the Alliance for Food and Farming, has waged a multi-front campaign to get the USDA to repackage its pesticide data with industry talking points that downplay risks and consumers' concerns. And they attacked EWG's Shopper's Guide to Pesticides in Produce in the bargain.

We expect to see USDA's 2010 pesticide data soon and fully expect that the agency has not caved to industry pressure. Giving you the information you need is too important. Your tax dollars paid for the government's pesticide tests. So please stand with EWG today to make sure the USDA tells us the whole truth about pesticides on our food.

Click here to tell the USDA not to cave to industry's pressure - you want to know what you're eating.

Last year, we launched an investigation into the Alliance for Food and Farming and its efforts to influence the USDA. We learned that:

• The Alliance for Food and Farming - which represents the interests of conventional agriculture producers and pesticide companies - received a $180,000 grant from USDA in 2010 to slam " Environmental Working Group's 'dirty dozen' report," and to denounce " [c]laims by activist groups about unsafe levels of pesticides."

• One top USDA official even wrote a letter endorsing the use of federal tax dollars to attack EWG. When EWG supporters like you called USDA out for funding the project with your tax money, internal documents obtained by EWG show that some USDA officials tried to do damage control, discussing whether they could rescind the grant or tone down disclosures about the project.

• At the same time the Alliance for Food and Farming was preparing to attack EWG's Shopper's Guide to Pesticides in Produce, industry representatives were lobbying hard to have USDA change the way it would release pesticide data to include more industry-friendly spin downplaying the risks of pesticide residues.

• More than a dozen industry representatives - including members of the Alliance for Food and Farming board of directors who led the campaign against EWG - wrote Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack last year telling him to prevent " environmental activists" from presenting USDA pesticide data in a way that would hurt business.

Thanks to you, the Alliance for Food and Farming's government grant was not renewed. You told the USDA that consumers (and taxpayers!) want unbiased pesticide data released.

Let's do it again this year. Make sure USDA officials know they can't cave to industry pressure - Americans want to know the truth. Take action today.

Click here to tell the USDA not to cave to industry's pressure - you want to know what you're eating.

Thank you for standing with EWG against the pesticide lobby.

Sincerely,

Ken Cook
President, Environmental Working Group

Hello Viewers,

Do you care where your food comes from?

I know you do. That's why you need to be aware that the farm bill process - where your very own tax dollars determine what food ends up on your plate - is starting right now.

This week, the Senate agriculture committee is holding a hearing that marks the first step towards writing the 2012 farm bill. EWG Action Fund wants to make sure Congress hears your priorities loud and clear before this key legislation is drafted.

We want our tax dollars to go where they can do the most good - to promote organic farming, support local farmers, protect land and water and help feed children whose families have been hit hard by a struggling economy.

It's so important for our leaders in Washington to hear from you before the meetings start this week. Join EWG Action Fund today in telling Congress that we want better access to healthy, affordable food!

Click here to tell Congress you support sustainable farming practices and more affordable, healthy food for all Americans.

The federal farm bill is at the heart of America's food system, affecting the foods you eat and how much they cost, the environment and even the government's bottom line. But much of this money goes to highly profitable farm businesses and absentee investors who don't live anywhere near a farm. In 2010, nearly $400 million went to " farmers" living in places like New York City, Chicago, San Francisco and even Beverly Hills.

Help us make sure that Congress knows what is important to you before lawmakers write the next farm bill. Especially in the current economy, we need those funds put to better use - promoting organic farming, creating better access to healthy, affordable food options, especially for kids in low-income households, supporting working farm families and producing food in a way that doesn't spoil our environment with waste and chemicals. Hearings start this week - please take action today.

Click here to tell Congress you want sustainable farming practices and more affordable, healthy food for all Americans.

Thank you for taking action,

Ken Cook
President, EWG Action Fund

Hello Viewers,

At the Environmental Working Group, we're blessed to have children in our lives. We're parents, aunts, uncles and friends of new parents. Lately there's been a lot of discussion around the office about our favorite toys, clothes, supplies and so much more. Since I am asked all the time what EWG staffers use in their own homes, I wanted to share with you some of the items we - and our kids - love.

If you click EWG's dedicated Amazon links, you can shop conveniently online, and a percentage of what you spend will be donated to EWG, at no extra cost to you, no matter what you buy.

Here's to all the children in the EWG family.

Sincerely,

Ken Cook
President, Environmental Working Group

Toys

• Natural wood teething ring
• Wood mobile
• Organic pack and play sheet
• Sand play set

Clothes

• Organic onesies
• Organic footie pajamas
• Organic booties
• An organic hat
• Organic swaddlers
• Organic baby sling

Feeding

• Glass baby bottles - plain or with a silicone sleeve
• Organic cotton nursing pads
• Manual baby food processor
• Organic bibs

Diapers

• Organic cloth diapers
• Environmentally friendly disposable diapers
• Organic cloth baby wipes

Baby's personal care products

• California Baby
• Badger baby balm

Planning to cut down on your carbon footprint this year?

Want to reduce your exposure to toxic chemicals and pollutants?

2011 was a great year for EWG, and it was all thanks to you. We are looking forward to a 2012 filled with new research, tips and tools so you can make safer, healthier choices for your family.

Thank you for your continued support,

Ken Cook
President, Environmental Working Group

Everything we've accomplished this past year is because of you, and everything we're able to do next year depends on you. That's why it's so important to give today.

The December 31 deadline is less than 48 hours away. We absolutely have to make this goal or we won't have the budget needed to get our critical research done for the coming year. There's no turning back the clock after midnight December 31. Either we make it, or we don't.

Can EWG count on your generous help once again?

Click here to make your tax-deductible donation to EWG right now, before midnight tomorrow. We're just $78,633 away, so a donation will really help push us over the finish line.

We've already told you about a lot of the great things we have in store for you next year. You're going to love our new household cleaners database. And of course, there are all those updates to the reports and guides you depend on, like the Cell Phone Radiation Guide, Skin Deep Cosmetics Database and the National Drinking Water Database.

Our efforts to fight the Secret Farm Bill get to the heart of what EWG is all about. We're working to ensure that affordable organic food is more accessible, that farming practices are both sustainable and environmentally safe, and that millionaires don't receive farming subsidies.

If you're reading this now, I know it's because you care about EWG and you count on us to provide you with the information you need to stay safe and healthy. If that's the case, then won't you please donate today? We need your help to not only continue our research, but expand on it. With your donation before midnight tomorrow, EWG will have its biggest and best year yet.

Click here to make a tax-deductible donation to EWG and help us reach this important goal by midnight tomorrow. We're just $78,633 away but the deadline is approaching, so please respond just as soon as you can.

I'm looking forward to calling Ken back and giving him the good news that we've achieved our goal.

Thanks again for your continued support!

Jocelyn Lyle
Director of Development, Environmental Working Group

Hello Viewers,

Are you facing the holiday shopping crunch like I am? Searching high and low for great gift ideas?

I've still got to find something special for the home chefs on my list, and I want these gifts to be unique - and, of course, healthy. Like so many of you, I turned to EWG and looked through our research on plastics, non-stick pans and so much more to come up with quick ideas for safer, fun kitchenware. Whether you're prepping for holiday feasts or looking for last-minute gifts, these should fit the bill.

Environmental Working Group doesn't just help you get through your gift list we also make shopping as easy as possible. If you click on one of our dedicated Amazon links, you'll be able to shop conveniently online and a portion of your total purchase amount will be donated to EWG, at no extra cost to you - no matter what you buy.

I wish you a safe - and flavorful - holiday.

Sincerely,

Ken Cook
President, Environmental Working Group

Here are a few of the safe, attractive kitchenware products that caught my eye and would make great gifts.

For the stove top:

• Chef's Secret 5-Ply Stainless Steel Griddle with Glass Lid

• T-Fal Ultimate Stainless Steel Copper Bottom 12-Inch Fry Pan

• Lodge Logic Dutch Oven with Loop Handles

• Cuisinart's 77-10 Chef's Classic Stainless Steel 10-Piece Cookware Set

• Lodge Pro Logic 14-Inch Cast Iron Wok

For the oven:

• Norpro 8-Inch Stainless Steel Cake Pan

• Pyrex Bake, Serve and Store Sets

• Norpro Stainless Steel 15-Inch by 10-Inch Jelly Roll Baking Pan

• Anchor Hocking Oven Basics 11-Piece Bake Set

• Fox Run Stainless Steel Muffin Pan

• Pyrex Bakeware 1 1/2 Quart Casserole Dish with Lid

• Progressive International Stainless Steel Roasting Pan

Accessories:

• Stainless Steel Mixing Bowls

• Calphalon 6-Piece Stainless Steel Crock Set

• Norpro 3-Piece Stainless Steel Balloon Whisk Set

P.S. At EWG, we want to keep providing you with the information you need to make smarter, healthier choices for you and your family. Time is running out to meet our 2011 fundraising goals. Donate $10 or more today, and we'll send you our special ChicoBag mesh produce bag to thank you. This deadline is so crucial, a generous donor will match your gift, doubling your impact!