Usually the creation of counterfeit bills is discouraged.
But today, those in Gainesville can design fake $100 bills for a good cause.
Artists and environmentalists alike can stop by the Dwight H. Hunter Northeast Pool, 1100 NE 14th St., at 6 p.m. in support of the Fundred Dollar Bill Project, an effort to raise awareness about the effects of lead-poisoned soil.
Participants will create mock $100 bills to be picked up by the Fundred truck, which will then transport them to Washington, D.C.
The goal is to collect 3 million mock $100 bills from 125 nationwide collection sites.
The conceptual sum of those bills — $300 million — is the cost to improve soil conditions in New Orleans, said Mary Rubin, the project’s director of national affairs.
Rubin estimated volunteers with the project have collected about 400,000 bills so far.
“It’s really important that everywhere, everybody and anybody makes their Fundred,” she said.
Rubin said organizers hope the symbolic bills will encourage the cleanup of lead-contaminated soil in New Orleans.
Although lead-poisoned soil is common, it can result in negative health effects when absorbed by the skin.
About 30 percent of inner-city children in New Orleans are affected by the lead-contaminated soil, according to the project.
“By creating a Fundred dollar bill, you’re supporting the generational solution to the health of our communities,” Rubin said.
For more information, visit http://www.fundred.org/.
