Menu

Green Grant

Photo of a large boat wrapped in shrink-wrap plastic to protect it from the elements while being transported or stored

VIMS Wraps it up with $1,000 Green Grant

, , , , , , ,

Photo of a large boat wrapped in shrink-wrap plastic to protect it from the elements while being transported or storedVirginia Institute of Marine Science (VIMS) is awarded a $1,000 Green Grant in the Recycling and Waste Reduction category as part of Keep Virginia Beautiful’s 15th Annual Green Grants program.    

Every year, government, non-profit, civic, and service organizations in Virginia are invited to apply for grants ranging from $500 to $1,000 that will help address environmental concerns in their community.  Grants must focus on one of the following priorities:   Litter Prevention, Recycling & Waste Reduction, Cigarette Litter Prevention & Recycling, or Community Beautification. 

The Virginia Clean Marina Program is part of the Marine Advisory Program at the Virginia Institute of Marine Science.  They provide education, outreach, and technical assistance to the marine industry, citizens, and government in many areas, including sport fishing, marine education, seafood technology, marine business, and aquaculture. The Clean Marina Program strives to lessen the potential environmental impacts of marina operations through education, outreach, and prevention.

Blue words on white background that read: VIMS, Virginia Institute of Marine Science; William & MaryThe focus of the Green Grant project for the Virginia Institute of Marine Science is to recycle boating shrink wrap. When the boating season winds down, many owners choose to shrink-wrap their vessel to protect the paint, furniture, and trim from the elements during the winter.  The shrink wrap is removed at the beginning of the next boating season, and much of that plastic ends up in the landfill.

Funds provided by the grant will be used by VIMS to purchase metal recycling bins to keep at marinas to collect used boating shrink wrap at until it is ready for pickup by the Clean Marina Program staff, interns, and volunteers, who will dry it, and cut off any non-recyclables. The shrink wrap will then be transferred to Virginia Institute of Marine Science campus, where it will be baled and picked up by International Paper, a shrink wrap recycler based in Richmond. Non-recyclables will be reused in an art contest with Newport News Public Schools.  The Virginia Institute of Marine Science also plans to promote the use of reusable options for the used shrink wrap, such as tarps, in addition to recycling.

Newport News Green Foundation logo

Newport News Green Foundation Awarded $1,000 Green Grant

, , , , , ,

Newport News Green Foundation logoNewport News Green Foundation in Newport News is awarded a $1,000 Green Grant in the Community Beautification category as part of Keep Virginia Beautiful’s 15th Annual Green Grants program.

Every year, government, non-profit, civic, and service organizations in Virginia are invited to apply for grants ranging from $500 to $1,000 that will help address an environmental concern in their community. Grants must focus on one of the following priorities: Litter Prevention, Recycling & Waste Reduction, Cigarette Litter Prevention & Recycling, or Community Beautification.

The Green Foundation enhances the quality of life in Newport News, by preserving, transforming, and promoting green spaces. Since 2001, it has protected over 50 acres across 22 properties, contributing to the city’s sustainability and beauty.

The Foundation, in collaboration with a certified Virginia Master Naturalist, is launching a native habitat restoration project at the Hilton Ravine, a pocket park in the historic Hilton Village neighborhood of Newport News. This initiative aims to enhance the ecological health of the ravine by removing invasive species, planting native flora, and engaging the local community in environmental stewardship.

The Green Grant award will be used to enhance the ecological health of the Hilton Ravine by removing invasive species, planting native flora, and engaging the local community in environmental stewardship. Funds will be used to purchase native plants, educational materials, and other supplies for volunteers. Educational opportunities, such as workshops and interpretive signage, will inform the public about the importance of native habitats and sustainable land management practices.

Newport News Green Foundation photo of the Hilton Ravine that will be restoredSuccessfully executing this project will showcase our organization’s dedication to ecological restoration and community enrichment. Demonstrating tangible environmental improvements can attract new supporters, volunteers, and funding opportunities, strengthening our capacity for future projects.

The success of the Hilton Ravine restoration can serve as a model for similar initiatives across our other properties. With stewardship over 50 acres across 22 properties, we have the opportunity to replicate this project’s strategies, thereby amplifying our environmental and community impact throughout Newport News.

Barrel container holding a variety of pink ad purple flowers

Lee County Garden Club Awarded a Green Grant

, , , , ,

Barrel container holding a variety of pink ad purple flowersLee County Garden Club in Jonesville is awarded a $750 Green Grant in the Community Beautification category as part of Keep Virginia Beautiful’s 15th Annual Green Grants program.    

Every year, government, non-profit, civic, and service organizations in Virginia are invited to apply for grants ranging from $500 to $1,000 that will help address an environmental concern in their community.  Grants must focus on one of the following priorities:   Litter Prevention, Recycling & Waste Reduction, Cigarette Litter Prevention & Recycling, or Community Beautification. 

Lee County Garden Club was formed in 1937 and pledged to protect and conserve the natural resources of the planet, becoming caretakers of air, water, forest, land and wildlife. Since then, a lot of the focus has been on the Jonesville area to improve the look of Main Street and Cumberland Park.  

When Hurricane Helene hit the area last fall, the winds destroyed the areas of the park, including the beautiful, covered pavilion, and several large old trees. On Main Street, the half-barrel pots were ruined as well as the hanging pots on the old-fashioned lampposts.  Members of the Lee County Garden Club will work to replace the barrel planters and hanging pots, and fill them with soil, flowers and mulch.  The second focus area for Community Beautification is in front of the town hall, which has only tree stumps remaining. 

With donations of plants purchased by members and funds provided by the Green Grant, the Garden Club will return Main Street and the park to its former beauty.  They will mulch borders, a few areas of perennials, dwarf trees, and add a bench and solar lights. A local contractor will be grinding the stumps at no charge to contribute to the beautification efforts. 

Hopefully, it will aid in the return to normalcy of the town after Helene struck and uplift the spirits of residents and visitors. 

Aerial photograph of the SuperNova Alliance Ska Festival at the beach on Ft. Monroe, Hampton

Supernova Alliance Awarded a $1,000 Green Grant

, , , , , ,

Aerial photograph of the SuperNova Alliance Ska Festival at the beach on Ft. Monroe, HamptonSupernova Alliance in Hampton is awarded a $1,000 Green Grant in the Cigarette Butt Litter & Recycling category as part of Keep Virginia Beautiful’s 15th Annual Green Grants program.    

Every year, government, non-profit, civic, and service organizations in Virginia are invited to apply for grants ranging from $500 to $1,000 that will help address environmental concerns in their community.  Grants must focus on one of the following priorities:   Litter Prevention, Recycling & Waste Reduction, Cigarette Litter Prevention & Recycling, or Community Beautification.  

Supernova Alliance is a nonprofit dedicated to promoting cultural exchange, community empowerment, and social impact through the global ska and reggae music scene.  Supernova Alliance leverages the unifying power of music to support causes such as music education, youth engagement, and international collaboration.  

The Pick It Up Program is Supernova Alliance’s 2025 sustainability initiative focused on large-scale recycling and litter prevention during the Supernova International Ska Festival from September 12th to the 14th at historic Fort Monroe. The program engages volunteers to monitor recycling bins actively, keep cans separated from landfill waste, properly dispose of cigarette butt litter, and promote a clean festival culture through engaging signage and art. This year’s project shifts focus on recycling visibility, volunteer support, and creative public messaging that encourages fans to “Pick It Up” — both litter and the spirit of responsibility. 

Many people don’t realize that cigarette butts, the Number 1 most littered item in the world, are recyclable.  TerraCycle offers a free program that recycles cigarette butts, melting the plastic in cigarette butt filters to create picnic tables, benches, and other new items. 

For The Pick It Up Program, Supernova Alliance will track multiple measurable outcomes to evaluate the program’s impact during the 2025 Supernova International Ska Festival to:

  • Collect and recycle at least 5,000 cans 
  • Engage 15–20 volunteers, who will work in shifts throughout the 3-day event to manage recycling stations and educate attendees 
  • Monitor and empty 6–8 previously installed cigarette receptacles, tracking how often they’re filled and ensuring they prevent ground litter 
  • Reach thousands of festivalgoers, with visual prompts and volunteer guidance encouraging proper recycling behavior 

The Ska Festival takes place on a beachfront venue, which is a prime area for cigarette butt litter. The metrics accrued using these measures will demonstrate the program’s effectiveness and lay the foundation for future sustainability efforts at Supernova events. 

Logo for Claytor Lake's Izaak Walton League of America with the drawn image of water, fish, deer, trees, and birds.

$1,000 Award Goes to Claytor Lake Chapter Izzak Walton League

, , , , , , , , , , ,

Logo for Claytor Lake's Izaak Walton League of America with the drawn image of water, fish, deer, trees, and birds.Claytor Lake Chapter Izzak Walton League in Pulaski is awarded a $1,000 Green Grant in the Litter Prevention category as part of Keep Virginia Beautiful’s 15th Annual Green Grants program.    

Every year, government, non-profit, civic, and service organizations in Virginia are invited to apply for grants ranging from $500 to $1,000 that will help address environmental concerns in their community.  Grants must focus on one of the following priorities:   Litter Prevention, Recycling & Waste Reduction, Cigarette Litter Prevention & Recycling, or Community Beautification. 

The Izaak Walton League of America, founded in 1922, is one of the country’s oldest and most respected conservation organizations that’s dedicated to the protection of natural resources and the promotion of outdoor recreation. The Claytor Lake Chapter has focused its efforts on the conservation, restoration, and sustainable management of Virginia’s natural resources. Their work encompasses the preservation of forests, soil, water, and wildlife, supporting both local ecosystems and the broader environmental health of the region.

Each month, the Claytor Lake Chapter of the Izaak Walton League hosts dedicated workdays, where volunteers come together to help clean up the local roadways leading into the campground and the surrounding waterways. In the wake of Hurricane Helene, Claytor Lake and the surrounding areas experienced significant damage, with debris from upstream flooding flowing into the cove where their campground is located. The flooding has pushed even more materials downstream into a nearby creek that runs through the community, further expanding Photograph of Claytor Lake with still blue water, grasses in the foreground, spit of land with trees, blue skythe area in need of cleanup.

The Chapter needs basic tools and equipment to help sustain these efforts.  Green Grant funds will be used to purchase battery-powered chain saw, gas-powered chain saw, safety vests, as well as grabbles and ropes for removing debris from the waterway. 

These tools will greatly enhance our Chapter’s ability to clean up Claytor Lake and the surrounding roadways. Not only will they make the work easier and safer for our volunteers, but they will also allow the organization to more effectively serve the community by removing hazardous debris and restoring the natural beauty of the area. With the help of these grant funds, the Claytor Lake Chapter can continue its important mission of environmental stewardship.

Photo of a volunteer scraping off graffiti and stickers from a sign on the Mount Vernon Trail

Friends of the Mount Vernon Trail Awarded Green Grant

, , , ,

Photo of a volunteer scraping off graffiti and stickers from a sign on the Mount Vernon TrailFriends of the Mount Vernon Trail in Alexandria is awarded a $500 Green Grant in the Community Beautification category as part of Keep Virginia Beautiful’s 15th Annual Green Grants program.    

Every year, government, non-profit, civic, and service organizations in Virginia are invited to apply for grants ranging from $500 to $1,000 that will help address environmental concerns in their community.  Grants must focus on one of the following priorities:   Litter Prevention, Recycling & Waste Reduction, Cigarette Litter Prevention & Recycling, or Community Beautification. 

The Friends of the Mount Vernon Trail is a volunteer-driven nonprofit organization that was established in 2018. Its mission is to support the National Park Service in maintaining the Mount Vernon Trail as a safe and welcoming environment for all users. The Mount Vernon Trail is an 18-mile paved multi-use path that stretches from George Washington’s Mount Vernon estate to Theodore Roosevelt Island, paralleling the Potomac River. Since its inception, the trail has hosted over 260 events, with more than 5,500 volunteers contributing over 13,700 hours to trail improvement efforts. In 2023, the trail won the National Park Service’s Excellence in volunteerism Award for the Team Impact category. 

Funds provided by the Green Grant award will be used to purchase more graffiti removal spray and sticker scrapers, as well as gloves and safety goggles for the nonprofit organization’s volunteers to use when removing graffiti tags and stickers from the trail. Having additional graffiti spray now will help FoMVT remove graffiti during the summer, when they see the largest increase in graffiti activity. This project directly aligns with Keep Virginia Beautiful’s mission to engage communities in enhancing natural beauty and reducing litter. By removing graffiti and stickers from the Mount Vernon Trail—a regional treasure—they will not only restore a cleaner, safer environment, but also foster civic pride, environmental responsibility, and a renewed appreciation for public spaces. 

Photo of natural rock bridge with blue skies and trees, located in Natural Bridge State Park, Virginia

Natural Bridge State Park Awarded Green Grant

, , , , ,

Photo of natural rock bridge with blue skies and trees, located in Natural Bridge State Park, VirginiaNatural Bridge State Park in Rockbridge is awarded a $1,000 Green Grant in the Recycling and Waste Reduction category as part of Keep Virginia Beautiful’s 15th Annual Green Grants program.    

Every year, government, non-profit, civic, and service organizations in Virginia are invited to apply for grants ranging from $500 to $1,000 that will help address environmental concerns in their community.  Grants must focus on one of the following priorities:   Litter Prevention, Recycling & Waste Reduction, Cigarette Litter Prevention & Recycling, or Community Beautification. 

Natural Bridge State Park protects and preserves the natural, cultural, and historical features of the 1600-acre park. The park offers 10 miles of hiking trails, Lace Falls with its 50-foot cascade, and group camping.  Blue Hollow is a primitive tent group campground that is popular with Scout groups and large families who come from across the states.  Currently there is no running water at the campground. 

Words in black font that say Virginia Sate ParksThe Friends of Natural Bridge State Park are eager to install rain barrel collection systems in the Blue Hollow Group Campground by reusing wood from old picnic tables for the base and recycled barrels from the wastewater treatment plant.  This will enable guests to wash their hands, rinse dishes, and clean off picnic tables.

Park staff will be able to clean the tent pads without having to supply water from a portable reservoir. Each barrel will be labeled as “Non-Potable Water.” Beside each barrel, a sign will be installed explaining the importance of rain collection and the reuse of natural resources. 

Natural Bridge State Park will measure the rain collection in gallons and will speak to guest about their experience with the collection system and its use. The park is a leader in sustainability efforts amongst the Virginia State Parks. Natural Bridge will share their data and success of the rain water reuse and encourage others to do barrel installs at their parks.

Logo of the Coastal Composite Squadron with wings, and a lighthouse

Coastal Composite Squadron Awarded $1,000 Green Grant

, , , , , , ,

Logo of the Coastal Composite Squadron with wings, and a lighthouseThirty grants are being awarded throughout Virginia in June as part of Keep Virginia Beautiful’s 15th Annual Green Grants Program.  Coastal Composite Squadron, in Virginia Beach, is awarded a $1,000 Green Grant in the Cigarette Litter Prevention and Recycling category as part of Keep Virginia Beautiful’s 15th Annual Green Grants program.    

Every year, government, non-profit, civic, and service organizations in Virginia are invited to apply for grants ranging from $500 to $1,000 that will help address an environmental concern in their community.  Grants must focus on one of the following priorities:   Litter Prevention, Recycling & Waste Reduction, Cigarette Litter Prevention & Recycling, or Community Beautification. 

Established in 1941, Civil Air Patrol (CAP) is a public service organization chartered by Congress that functions both as a nonprofit and the civilian auxiliary of the U.S. Air Force.  Youth aged 12-18 may join the cadet program, which focuses on leadership, aerospace education, physical fitness, and character development.  Sandra Shinabarger, a senior member of the Civil Air Patrol, and her family, including a son who is a member of the CAP cadet program, are diligent about litter removal.  They are sharing this passion with her son’s Civil Air Patrol Squadron because this aligns with the community service aspect of the Civil Air Patrol.   

Currently there are no outdoor brochure stands to hold pocket ashtrays at the smoking sections of several concert venues such as the Veteran’s United Home Loans Amphitheater, the Hampton Coliseum, and others. This leads to cigarette butts being littered on the ground. Shinabarger plans to install outdoor brochure stands to hold pocket ashtrays to make them available for use by smokers at the event. Funds from the Green Grant will also be used to purchase pocket ashtrays for this distribution. 

Because cigarette butt litter is the number one most-littered item in Virginia (and the world!) we are grateful for the volunteer work of the Coastal Composite Squadron to provide cigarette butt pouches to individuals who choose to smoke so that there is a sustainable way to capture and recycle cigarette butts.

Photo of brick-walled vegetable gardens with plants ready to be planted by smiling volunteer adults.

$1,000 Green Grant Awarded to Our Health

, , , , , ,

Photo of brick-walled vegetable gardens with plants ready to be planted by smiling volunteer adults.Our Health in Winchester is awarded a $500 Green Grant in the Community Beautification category as part of Keep Virginia Beautiful’s 15th Annual Green Grants program.    

Every year, government, non-profit, civic, and service organizations in Virginia are invited to apply for grants ranging from $500 to $1,000 that will help address environmental concerns in their community.  Grants must focus on one of the following priorities:   Litter Prevention, Recycling & Waste Reduction, Cigarette Litter Prevention & Recycling, or Community Beautification. 

Our Health is a nonprofit organization that improves access to quality healthcare and human services for individuals and families in need, partnering with 97 nonprofit organizations throughout the Northern Shenandoah Valley.  

Logo with the words Our Health, Connecting Partners, Saving CommunityOur Health has a Community Garden that is used as an educational tool, inviting people to help with the planting and maintenance of the garden during the warm weather months. The Community Garden has become a staple in this region during the growing season for people to come and gather fresh produce to eat and cook meals. Funds provided by the Green Grant will be used to purchase a Maze Compost Tumbler and Cart Combo so that they can remove dead plants and other yard and food waste to be processed in the composter; then use the composted material to fertilize their garden. This grant will help Our Health provide healthy food choices for those experiencing food insecurity.  

Executive Director, Sharen Gromling, said that this this project will do two things for the organization, the clients we serve, and the community at large: addressing food insecurity, and the difference that the compost tumbler and cart will make in the community garden, making the campus more beautiful and inviting. The garden is very visible to those that drive by the campus. The more that clients feel safe and secure, the more work that can be done to improve their health and their lives.

Green and black logo for Scottsville Center for Arts and Nature

$1,000 Green Grant Awarded to Scottsville Center for Arts and Nature

, , , , , , ,

Green and black logo for Scottsville Center for Arts and Nature Scottsville Center for Arts and Nature in the United States is awarded a $1,000 Green Grant in the Litter Prevention category as part of Keep Virginia Beautiful’s 15th Annual Green Grants program.    

Every year, government, non-profit, civic, and service organizations in Virginia are invited to apply for grants ranging from $500 to $1,000 that will help address an environmental concern in their community. Grants must focus on one of the following priorities:   Litter Prevention, Recycling & Waste Reduction, Cigarette Litter Prevention & Recycling, or Community Beautification. 

The Scottsville Center for Arts and Nature (SCAN) is a non-profit organization that was established in 2004 to inspire and foster exploration of the arts and nature. SCAN owns a 13-acre property just to the north of Scottsville’s center that was the site of a small farm. Since obtaining the land, the non-profit organization’s goal is to create an outdoor public space where people in and around Scottsville can explore nature and enjoy the arts. They’ve already created an ecologically self-sustaining landscape with amenities such as an outdoor amphitheater, apiary, children’s play spaces, and nature trails. 

Photograph of people gathering out in a fieldHowever, their battle with litter is ongoing. On both the land itself and the roads that surround it, they’ve found that continual vigilance is required to keep litter at bay. With funds awarded by the Green Grant, SCAN will purchase equipment and supplies such as litter grabbers and safety vests to support their ongoing, volunteer-driven litter cleanup campaign.  

Because the land was once a farm, they’ve worked diligently on the restoration of the lush and beautiful native meadow ecosystem that once stood on this site, such as planting 100 native trees along the main road. The presence of litter works against to the efforts of the restoration, and the success of their litter cleanup campaign is a high priority.

We wish the Scottsville Center for Arts and Nature much success as they continue to help keep Virginia Beautiful!

Load More