Our First 30 in Thirty Green Grant Winner of 2019!

Back in 2011, we started a program with the help of some amazing sponsors that allowed us to award a grant each and every day in celebration of Earth Month. Groups and organizations across Virginia applied for and won grants for things like cigarette litter prevention, new recycling programs in schools, renovating playgrounds, starting community gardens, and more.

Since that first year, we’ve awarded $203,000 for 260 different projects at schools, colleges, parks, counties and towns, environmental groups, associations, nonprofits, and service organizations.

The first award of 2019 goes to Keep Manassas Beautiful with a grant of $1000 for its Cigarette Litter Prevention Program.

Working with business owners in Historic Downtown Manassas, Keep Manassas Beautiful helps to educate its residents about cigarette butt litter using posters that feature a “Cigarette Fairy,” and distributing portable ashtrays to restaurants, shops, and at events in the area. Funds from the grant award will be used to continue the work of the Cigarette Fairy to maintain the beauty of its historic downtown area and reduce cigarette butt litter with more portable ashtrays. They will also offer cigarette butt receptacles to local businesses to further reduce litter.

Our generous partner for this year is Altria, and we received additional support from our parent organization, Keep America Beautiful, and Coca-Cola.