It’s Our 70th Anniversary
Our staff, Board members, and partners are especially excited to greet 2023 because it’s going to be a special year for Keep Virginia Beautiful. We’re celebrating our 70th Anniversary! It will be a year full of old and new programs, and plenty of looking back at memories, milestones, and events. (And just maybe some old black & white photographs too.)
Our organization began as the Virginia Anti-Litterbug Council in 1953 to address the “menacing litter problem” on our highways. Over the years we’ve partnered with the Department of Highways (now known as VDOT), the Department of Conservation, governors, the Commission of Game and Inland Fisheries (now the Department of Wildlife Resources), and others — as well as scores of volunteers! — to clean up litter in the landscape. We are recognized as an Affiliate of the nationwide program Keep America Beautiful, and we have a network of local Virginia Affiliates that are making substantial positive impacts in the communities they serve.
But there is still much to be done, and we have a year that will be packed with activities and events to continue our “Anti-Litterbug” efforts!
One of our favorite programs, Green Grants, will kick off in the spring. Since 2011, Keep Virginia Beautiful has provided $282,000 for 385 programs and projects throughout the state. Groups of all types and sizes have been awarded $500, $750, or $1,000 to implement their plans to improve our nature and scenic environment through Community Beautification, Recycling, Litter Prevention, and Cigarette Litter Prevention. Online grant applications will be available in April, and grant award announcements will be made one each day during June. We’re hoping to have an additional Green Grant funding round in the fall – stay tuned for more details!
The Great American Cleanup is set to run March 20 – June 21, 2023, with Virginia doing its part throughout that time frame. We’ll be cleaning up with our affiliates around the state, and will give away cleanup kits to get you safely out there picking up litter too wherever you live, work, or play.
We are thrilled to partner with the Virginia Green Travel Alliance to co-host their 10th annual conference from March 21-22, 2023 in Virginia Beach. The keynote speaker is Jennifer Lawson, CEO of Keep America Beautiful! We will connect professionals, offer engaging and informative workshops, and celebrate the work of 
both organizations and allied partners! Learn more about the conference here.
We’re also excited to announce our “Make Beautiful Your Business” Membership Program! Beautiful is our business and now it can be yours too! This new program engages like-minded businesses and individuals to help preserve the beauty of our Commonwealth. Educational, volunteer, and advocacy opportunities are included. Join anytime and be one of our first 70 Founding Members for added benefits!
This is just the start of some of the ways we’ll be celebrating our 70 years; more details will be released as the year progresses. But we couldn’t do any of it without our partners, supporters, and volunteers! Thank you for caring about the natural and scenic environment of Virginia, we’re looking forward to sharing this year with you!