Recycling, Public Lands Cleanups and Community Greening Take Center Stage as 32,000 Communities Declare "Green Starts Here!"
Published 10-06-09
Submitted by Keep America Beautiful
Take over 3 million volunteers and participants, and 1,000 grassroots organizations, provide them with the tools and motivation to make their hometown a better place, mix in 5.2 million volunteer hours, sweat, grit and elbow grease, and watch as communities flourish with a cleaner environment, civic pride, and enhanced natural beauty. National nonprofit Keep America Beautiful's 2009 Great American Cleanup™ accomplished this and more, with more than 30,000 events taking place in 32,000 communities nationwide.
The 2009 campaign, themed "Green Starts Here," encouraged communities to declare that being "green" begins with the actions of individuals. It can start with an educational event, a litter cleanup, recycling drive, graffiti paint-out, planting a community garden or planting just one tree. Great movements, claimed event organizers, begin with small actions. The results offer proof. In the program’s three months (March 1 through May 31):
Increasing awareness about the importance of recycling was reflected in the remarkable results generated"¨
Recognizing that greener communities are better places to live, and can contribute to better economies and greater civic pride, volunteers answered the President's call to national service, rolled up their sleeves, grabbed tools, and got to work.
"Keep America Beautiful is grateful for the remarkable achievements of our Great American Cleanup participating organizations and volunteers," said Matthew M. McKenna, president and CEO of Keep America Beautiful, Inc. "Every single one of them should feel incredibly proud of the work they've accomplished on behalf of their communities, our KAB affiliate network, and partners."
America's leading companies support the campaign. The national sponsors of the 2009 Great American Cleanup are American Honda Motor Co., Inc.; ARM & HAMMER®; Colgate-Palmolive Company; The Dow Chemical Company; The Glad Products Company; Pepsi-Cola Company; The Scotts Miracle-Gro Company; Solo Cup Company; Troy-Bilt® Lawn and Garden Equipment; University of Phoenix; Waste Management, Inc.; Wm. Wrigley Jr. Co.; and Educational Partner: Rubber Manufacturers Association.
About Keep America Beautiful, Inc.
Keep America Beautiful, Inc., established in 1953, is the nation's largest volunteer-based community action and education organization. This national nonprofit forms public-private partnerships and programs that engage individuals to take greater responsibility for improving their community environments. The Great American Cleanup is KAB's annual signature program, encouraging people to care for communities through volunteer participation. To join the Great American Cleanup and let green start with you, visit www.kab.org
Keep America Beautiful is the nation’s leading nonprofit that brings people together to build and sustain vibrant communities. With a powerful national network of community-based affiliates, we work with millions of volunteers who take action in their communities to transform public spaces into beautiful places. Through our programs and public-private partnerships, we engage individuals to take greater responsibility for improving their community’s environment.
For more information, visit kab.org, follow us on Twitter, like us on Facebook, discover us on Pinterest, or view us on YouTube.
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