Tidewater

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA

Isle of Wight County Wins Litter Prevention Green Grant

, , , , , , , ,

We are awarding our annual “30 in Thirty Green Grants” daily during the month of June. Since 2011 we have provided $203,000 for 260 different environmental projects and programs all across the Commonwealth, due to the generosity this year of our partner Altria, as well as additional support from Keep America Beautiful and Coca-Cola.

Isle of Wight County in Hampton Roads has been awarded a 30 in Thirty Green Grant of $1000 for its Litter Prevention project. Isle of Wight County services waste needs for approximately 14,000 households. The County will implement a project to prevent litter called, “Teach Up the Pick Up.” It will focus on educating children about litter prevention, and getting students involved in school and roadside cleanups. They will also aim to prevent litter on highways through a “Cover Your Load” campaign. Funds received from our grant will be used to purchase educational materials for students, cleanup supplies, and “Cover Your Load” informational signs.

R - Zoo with Check

Virginia Zoological Society wins $1000 for Recycling

, , , , , , , , ,

The Virginia Zoological Society in Norfolk has been awarded a 30 in Thirty Green Grant of $1000 for its recycling project. The Virginia Zoo, home to over 700 animals, is the largest zoo in the Commonwealth. Partnering with Eco-cell, a family-owned business in Louisville, Kentucky, the zoo plans to recycle electronics like smartphones, tablets, adapters, and chargers. The electronic items use rare minerals and metals, several of which are mined in endangered species habitats. By recycling these electronic components, they will be help the environment by protecting the habitat of many endangered species, reduce stress on the environment, and deter toxic waste from our landfills by recycling what is often thrown in the trash. Funds provided by us will be used to purchase a secure deposit vault for collecting the electronics, as well as signs and graphics to educate the public about cell phone recycling.

Since 2011, we have provided $203,000 for 260 different environmental projects and programs all across the Commonwealth, due to the generosity this year of our partner Altria, as well as additional support from Keep America Beautiful and Coca-Cola.

VB Rescue

Virginia Beach Volunteer Rescue to Beautify with Green Grant

, , , , , ,

We are awarding our annual “30 in Thirty Green Grants” daily during the month of June. Since 2011, we have provided $203,000 for 260 different environmental projects and programs all across the Commonwealth, due to the generosity this year of our partner Altria, as well as additional support from Keep America Beautiful and Coca-Cola.

Virginia Beach Volunteer Rescue Squad has been awarded a 30 in Thirty Green Grant of $1000 for its Community Beautification project. The Virginia Beach Volunteer Rescue Squad provides free emergency medical services by staffing two stations, 24 hours a day. They plan to create a community garden on the side of their oceanfront station, near the entrance to a meeting room they offer for use to civic leagues and many other community groups. They envision that this area will serve as a community gathering spot where people can meet and interact with their rescue squad, and where hardworking volunteers of the organization can relax and enjoy. The funds provided by us will be used to purchase large plant pots, butterfly-friendly plants, and a picnic table for the space.

Screen Shot 2019-06-06 at 12.56.55 PM

Virginia Capital Trail Foundation wins 30 in Thirty

, , , , , , , , , ,

The Virginia Capital Trail Foundation is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to enhance, promote, and be an advocate for the Virginia Capital Trail, a 52-mile pedestrian and bicycle trail connecting Richmond and Williamsburg. Unfortunately, the trail is often littered with fast food containers, cigarette butts, alcohol containers, old clothes, and other trash from passing cars. Volunteer “Cleanup Captains” regularly lead groups spread out along the trail to pick up litter.

Funds will be used to create four litter packs for future cleanups. Supplies such as trash bags, trash grabbers and gloves will be purchased in order to provide to all the volunteers involved.

Virginia Capital Trail Foundation, in Richmond, has been awarded a 30 in Thirty Green Grant of $750 for its Litter Prevention project.

Since 2011, we have provided $203,000 for 260 different environmental projects and programs all across the Commonwealth, due to the generosity this year of our partner Altria, as well as additional support from Keep America Beautiful and Coca-Cola.

20190524_161933

Friends of Norfolk’s Environment wins Beautification Green Grant

, , , , , , ,

We are awarding our annual “30 in Thirty Green Grants” daily during the month of June. Friends of Norfolk’s Environment has been awarded today’s grant of $1000 for its Beautification project.

Friends of Norfolk’s Environment is a non-profit organization with dedicated volunteer community leaders who work to improve Norfolk’s environment through stewardship, education, and restoration. They will use their grant award to create a community garden at the Boys and Girls Club Diggs Town Recreation Center. The recreation center is located within an underserved, low income community of Southside Norfolk that is a food dessert – and area without easy access to grocery stores. A community garden program will benefit the children at the Diggs Town Recreation Center by providing physical activity, lowering stress and anxiety, providing outdoor time in nature, positively influencing self-esteem and confidence, and most importantly, connecting children to the natural food cycle.

Since 2011, we have provided $203,000 for 260 different environmental projects and programs all across the Commonwealth, due to the generosity this year of our partner Altria, as well as additional support from Keep America Beautiful and Coca-Cola.

L- Deep Creek Middle School's Grades of Green Team Project Pic 01

Deep Creek Middle School wins 30 in Thirty

, , , , , ,

We are awarding our annual “30 in Thirty Green Grants” daily during the month of June. Deep Creek Middle School has been awarded a grant of $1000 as today’s winner in the Litter Prevention category.

Deep Creek Middle School’s Grades of Green Team aims to educate students about single-use plastic pollution. The school’s cafeteria uses 240 plastic water bottles each day. The Grades of Green Team will use grant funds to install an Elkay water-bottle refill station. By replacing the older water fountain at the school, the refill station will encourage the environmentally conscious decision not to use single-use plastic bottles.

Since 2011, we have provided $203,000 for 260 different environmental projects and programs all across the Commonwealth, due to the generosity this year of our partner Altria, as well as additional support from Keep America Beautiful and Coca-Cola.

Screen Shot 2019-05-31 at 9.25.20 AM

Harmony Hall Farms Homeowners Wins Green Grant

, , , , , , ,

Harmony Hall Farms Homeowners Association in Northumberland County has been awarded our 2nd Green Grant in our 30 in Thirty program of $750 in the Litter Prevention Category.

Harmony Hall Farms Homeowners were concerned about the litter on the road leading into their community. There is a group that get together on a regular basis to conduct cleanups in Northumberland County, and gather data to quantify the litter problem in their county. This year’s projects include removing tires from an illegal tire dump site, and picking up litter from a 3-mile section of the road. The organization will spend the grant funds for trash pickup tools, traffic cones to ensure worker safety, and trash bags for the cleanups.

Since 2011, we’ve been able to award $203,000 to 260 groups across Virginia for beautification, educational, and environmental projects that all help to keep Virginia beautiful. This year, we are fortunate to partner with Atria, with additional support from Keep America Beautiful and Coca-Cola.

VB-Lake Edward 1

OMG the GAC!

, , , , , , , ,

We knew that this was a very successful day, but seeing the totals and all of the beautiful pictures really took our breath away.

We worked with our friends at askHRgreen to organize over 1,000 volunteers for an early Mother’s Day gift to Mother Earth on May 3rd and 4th in a Great American Cleanup in and around Hampton Roads. We had young people, older folks, local businesses, the military, local police officers, and more to spend two days across 13 municipalities for almost 50 events.

And it wasn’t just picking up litter.

Our friends and volunteers planted and pruned trees, planted rain gardens, spruced up playgrounds and parks, painted trash cans, and more. True – they did gather a ton of litter…

More like 15 TONS!

We found litter along roadways, in waterways, and even scattered around the ground next to trash cans where the litter is supposed to go. Go figure.

Not everything ended up going to the dump. askHRgreen told us,

“Volunteers set aside flattened metal containers, furniture fragments and anything that resembled a nose, eye, or mouth, for use by Sam Hundley, a local scrap artist. Hundley will take this former trash and transform it into an art piece to commemorate this year’s regional cleanup successes. A “reveal” of the art work will be announced later this year, with plans for it to be exhibited at locations all across Hampton Roads.”

And, of course, as much as possible went to be recycled.

Thank you to ALL of our friends and volunteers, and please enjoy the gallery below!

Blue Ridge Parkway LP-2

All of our 30 in Thirty Winners for 2018!

, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

To honor our commitment to the Commonwealth, we announced our “30 Grants in Thirty Days” recipients for 2018 each day in the month of June. This year, we awarded 30 grants in the amounts of $500 to $1,000. These grants were given to schools, parks, counties and towns, environmental groups, associations, and Keep America Beautiful affiliates in four different categories:   Litter Prevention, Recycling, Cigarette Litter Prevention, and Community Beautification. Since 2011, we have provided $203,000 for 260 different projects throughout the state. We appreciate the generosity of our 2018 partners at Altria and Keep America Beautiful.

The mission at Keep Virginia Beautiful is to engage and unite Virginians to improve our natural and scenic environment through five impact areas: Litter Prevention, Waste Reduction, Recycling, Beautification, and Environmental Education.

Please see each of the winners below with links to their project description.

The 2018 “30 Grants in Thirty Days” award winners are:

 

 

Category Organization Name Address
Cigarette Litter Prevention Town of Kilmarnock/Town Centre Park Kilmarnock
Community Beautification York County Beautification Committee Yorktown
Recycling George Mason Elementary School Richmond
Recycling State Fair of Virginia/Meadow Event Park Doswell
Litter Prevention Keep Suffolk Beautiful Suffolk
Cigarette Litter Prevention askHRgreen.org Chesapeake
Community Beautification Scottsville Elementary School Scottsville
Recycling Randolph-Macon College Student Government Assoc. Ashland
Community Beautification Northumberland Assn. for Progressive Stewardship Heathsville
Cigarette Litter Prevention The Town of Purcellville Purcellville
Litter Prevention Center for Natural Capital Orange
Community Beautification Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden Richmond
Recycling Town Of Big Stone Gap Parks and Recreation Big Stone Gap
Cigarette Litter Prevention The Augusta Garden Club Staunton
Litter Prevention Petersburg Battlefields Foundation Prince George
Cigarette Litter Prevention Friends of Kiptopeke State Park Cape Charles
Recycling City of Lexington Lexington
Litter Prevention Habitat For Humanity of Winchester-Frederick-Clarke Winchester
Litter Prevention Activities Committee at DEQ Valley Regional Office Harrisonburg
Recycling SCRAP RVA Richmond
Litter Prevention King George County King George
Recycling Girl Scouts of the Colonial Coast Chesapeake
Litter Prevention Heart of Virginia Council, BSA Richmond
Community Beautification Friends of Norfolk’s Environment (FONE) Norfolk
Litter Prevention Friends of the Blue Ridge Parkway Roanoke
Community Beautification TWP-The Youth Movement Norfolk
Recycling The Montpelier Foundation Orange
Community Beautification Virginia Clean Cities Harrisonburg
Recycling County of Prince George Prince George
Cigarette Litter Prevention Keep Manassas Beautiful Manassas

 

 

TWP B-1

TWP – The Youth Movement Wins 30 in Thirty

, , , , , , , , , ,

Teens With Purpose – The Youth Movement has been awarded a 30 in Thirty Grant of $1000 in the “Community Beautification” category. The goal of TWP – The Youth Movement is to develop a safe, welcoming neighborhood garden space for art, entertainment and learning in St. Paul’s Quadrant, the area with Norfolk’s highest concentration of low income public housing. They plan to transform vacant lots provided by the City of Norfolk to create sustainable neighborhood gardens, giving residents the opportunity to grow their own fresh produce, fruit and flowers, and to learn the health benefits of gardening and healthy eating. Funds awarded by Keep Virginia Beautiful will be used to purchase fruit trees, berry plants, roses, and supplies needed for the garden.

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, we have provided over $178,000 to fund 230 environmental projects and programs all across the Commonwealth, due to the generosity this year of our partners at Altria and Keep America Beautiful.

Load More