What Would You Do With a Grand?

We’re getting pretty close to the announcement of our first 2015 30 in Thirty Grant winner. Can you feel the excitement?

We started this in 2011, and have given over $90,000 to 120 winners. They’re large and small, public and private, and have been awarded between $500 and $1,000 towards their projects. No matter the size of their grant or the size of their organization, they share our commitment towards keeping Virginia beautiful.

So what have some of our past winners done with their grant money?

Lynnhaven River NOW helps to protect some of our waterways in Tidewater. They used their grant money to start an education program, telling the public about the danger and the dirty truth of what litter does to our aquatic life.

William Wetsel Middle School in Madison finished its rain garden with some additional trees and native plants. It has become an attractive environment for wildlife and an outdoor classroom.

The Virginia Aquarium encouraged visitors to think about the implications of their actions regarding cigarette butt litter by installing additional cigarette butt receptacles and educational signage. Addressing cigarette butt litter on the property is critical to the health of the marine environment because the Aquarium sits at the edge of a tidal waterway that connects directly to the Atlantic Ocean.

Service Kids in Progress earned a 30 in 30 grant for many reasons. First, they are an organization that gives to their community. Secondly, they get their youth community members to help their elderly community members. And finally, they believe in litter prevention and education. SKIP planned a community service day, in which the youth cleaned up the litter, leaves, and debris from the yards and neighborhoods of the elderly. We were proud to help enable this organization to purchase clean-up materials and help spread the word about their community event.

Hopewell City Public Schools wanted to put a recycle bin in every classroom in their 3 elementary schools, 1 middle school, 1 high school, and 1 learning center for pre-school and alternative education. The Hopewell schools know the value of recycling for the environment, but they also know the valuable lessons that it teaches their students. Positive recycling behaviors not only educate but also promote litter prevention, waste reduction, cleaner and greener habitats and community pride and awareness. We’ve no doubt they took these behaviors home and taught a thing or two to their parents.

The good news is that we had a record number of applicants for this year’s 30 in Thirty Grants. We also found two wonderful and generous partners in MeadWestvaco and Altria. The bad news is that it’s impossible for us to give every winner a grand. That’s where you can pitch in. Your donations help us to promote programs like recycling bins in classrooms, and education, and proper places for cigarette butts. Head over to our Donate page and find out how you can get involved. And watch out for this year’s class of 30 in Thirty winners!