T-Shirt World Record Event To Benefit Massachusetts Environmental Cleanup

    /24-7PressRelease/ - EASTHAMPTON, MA, June 07, 2007 - On June 13, a 12 year-old Massachusetts boy will squeeze into 161 T-shirts to help Mantis Graphics, the screen printing company his father co-owns, beat the world record for most T-shirts worn, an effort that will raise funds for an Easthampton Massachusetts pond cleanup. The son of Mantis Graphics co-owner Clay Crow, young Austin Crow hopes to use the event to help his father's company raise money to dredge Nashawannuck Pond- an Easthampton, Massachusetts landmark that has been rendered practically useless after 20 years of environmental neglect.

With many U.S. waterways polluted by domestic waste, sewage and industrial contaminants, Mantis Graphics' World Record attempt is intended to support a local environmental cause, and to highlight a national issue—the degradation of town and urban waters. "This is about saving Nashawannuck Pond, but it's also about doing our part to save the planet," says Mantis co-owner Brad Robbins. "It's our way of showing that a small group of people, like our graphics company, can help. And it's Austin's way of showing that, at just twelve years old, he can make a difference."

Indeed, after squeezing his 103-pound frame into more than 100 pounds of custom-printed T-shirts, Austin will have earned his chance to make a difference: By the end of his record-breaking challenge, he'll have gained a waist more than four feet wide and be unable to move his arms or torso. Friends and family joke that they plan to keep a watchful eye over Austin should he fall and begin to roll.

Good, Green Graphics
Mantis Graphics has made environmentally friendly and humane practices a priority since opening its doors in 1996. While the industry standards for screenprinting are mineral spirits (essentially paint thinner), chemicals, and plastisol ink - all of which negatively affect the earth's water, the landfills, and the climate - Mantis has no chemicals going down their drains. Mantis uses soy ink cleaning products regularly and water based inks on request. The shop is currently converting all lighting sources for energy efficiency, and future plans detail a solar powered shop. Robbins and Crow are committed to finding and using green vendors. And by request, for their printing and apparel, they use vendors that guarantee sweatshop-free clothing made in the USA. All bags and clothing are available in earth-friendly materials such as organic cotton, hemp, or fabric crafted from recycled plastic bottles. Finally, Mantis Graphics dutifully recycles everything recyclable.

Mantis Graphics is an eco-friendly printing and screen printing company located in Easthampton, Massachusetts. For further information, please contact us at (413) 527-8716 or visit our website at http://www.mantisgraphics.com

# # #