7.01.2004 ET

(CSRwire) Washington, D.C. - Keep America Beautiful, Inc. announces its first national award - the Graffiti Hurts® National Award - to recognize programs that are bringing innovation and best practices to erase graffiti vandalism. Graffiti Hurts® was developed in 1996 through a partnership between Keep America Beautiful, the nation's largest nonprofit education and community improvement organization, and The Sherwin-Williams Company (NYSE: SHW), maker of Krylon paint.

"The Graffiti Hurts National Award program will raise awareness about graffiti's negative impact on our communities," said G. Raymond Empson, President of Keep America Beautiful, Inc. "We are proud to be working with The Sherwin-Williams Company to address this quality of life issue."

Graffiti vandalism hurts communities, businesses, schools, and individuals. Graffiti sends the signal that no one cares about your community, thus attracting other forms of crime and street delinquency to the neighborhood.
And, graffiti cleanup is a big drain on tax dollars.

Tell us how your organization is working to stop graffiti and make a difference in your community. The winning program will receive a $2,000 cash award and national recognition for its graffiti prevention activities. The contest is open to all anti-graffiti projects that have taken place within the last 12 months (during 2003/2004). Local governments, police departments, youth groups, crime prevention organizations, and other groups dedicated to eradicating graffiti vandalism are encouraged to enter.

The award winner will be selected by an independent panel of judges from the public, private, and government sectors. The entry deadline is September 15, 2004. Go to Keep America Beautiful's Web site at www.kab.org to download an entry form.

Graffiti Hurts® is a community-based graffiti prevention program that provides resources to help community leaders assess the graffiti problem, initiate graffiti prevention activities, and educate youth and adults about the impact of graffiti vandalism on neighborhoods. For more information about Graffiti Hurts®, visit www.graffitihurts.org or contact graffitihurts@kab.org

About Keep America Beautiful, Inc.
Keep America Beautiful, Inc. is a national nonprofit public education and community improvement organization whose network of more than 540 city, county, statewide and international affiliates engages individuals in programs that prevent litter and reduce, reuse, recycle and properly manage waste materials. Through partnerships and strategic alliances with citizens, businesses and government, Keep America Beautiful's programs motivate millions of volunteers annually to clean up, beautify and improve their neighborhoods, creating safer and more livable community environments.

To learn more about Keep America Beautiful or download the award entry form, please go to www.kab.org.

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