Two $1,000 Green Grants are Awarded!

A special focus of our Green Grants this year is to support diverse groups and underserved populations by adding five additional grant awards, for a total of thirty-five awards.

Today we recognize two organizations that are serving those in need.  The first, Culpepper Garden, is Arlington’s largest affordable senior community and the first low-income senior community in the U.S. to provide assisted living. Culpepper Garden provides affordable housing for the area’s lowest income residents over the age of 62.  Residents include veterans, former teachers, artists, librarians, professors, retail and sales staff, curators, writers, and stay-at-home mothers.

Culpepper Garden will receive a $1,000 Green Grants Award for their Community Beautification project.  They will use their grant funds to plant a perennial community garden on the grounds of their assisted living center. They will utilize colorful perennials, mature trees, and shrubs to turn the property into an accessible, year-round green-space oasis for residents, their loved ones, and the greater Arlington community to enjoy.

We’re also shining a spotlight on Teens With a Purpose (TWP), in Norfolk, who will also receive a $1,000 for their Community Beautification project.  TWP is a nonprofit working to empower young people through the arts, peer-led programs and events. Their goal is to help young people become inspired and develop a life-long motivation to learn.

TWP will use their grant funds to expand Purpose Park, a safe community space run by TWP.  They will plant 23 trees, vegetables, flowers and fruit to share with the community and residents of nearby public housing. This project will provide beautification for the community, and will foster gardening skills, provide healthy food for people in need, while building leadership skills for program participants.

Congratulations Cullpepper Garden and Teens with a Purpose!  We’re looking forward to seeing your results in the Fall!

Every year, government, non-profit, civic and service organizations in Virginia were invited to apply for grants for $500 to $1,000 describing how they plan to tackle an environmental concern in their community regarding Litter Prevention, Recycling, Cigarette Litter Prevention, or Community Beautification.  Since 2011, Keep Virginia Beautiful has provided $254,500 for 320 different environmental programs and projects all across the Commonwealth, due to the generosity of their partnership with Altria, as well as additional support from Coca-Cola, WestRock and Keep America Beautiful.