Keep Brevard Beautiful Receives National Award
Keep Brevard Beautiful receives national award for beach cleanups, lagoon program
Published 4:44 p.m. ET Jan. 28, 2018 by Florida Today
Keep Brevard Beautiful has been awarded a Keep America Beautiful National Community Improvement Award for its Summer Series and Lagoon Friendly Lawn programs.
The award was handed out at Keep America Beautiful’s National Awards Ceremony during a national conference in Dallas held Jan. 17-19.
“These imaginative, inspirational and transformative community leaders help bring to life creative, resourceful and meaningful actions that help make their communities more socially connected, environmentally healthy and economically sound,” Keep America Beautiful president and CEO Helen Lowman said in a press release.
The Summer Series of cleanups was created in 2015 in partnership with FLORIDA TODAY. After three years, the program has removed 15 tons of litter from Brevard County shorelines, according to the release.
“We are so excited for our friends at Keep Brevard Beautiful to be recognized in this way,” said Jeff Kiel, president of FLORIDA TODAY. “It’s fitting this is awarded for commitment and passion to help the community. That is a mission we share with KBB, and we look forward to our continued partnership.”
Lagoon Friendly Lawns was established after a fish kill in 2016. It educates and encourages residents to reduce or stop using fertilizers, pesticides and other materials and to remove yard clippings to reduce nutrient runoff.
It also shows residents how to use native landscaping to have lush, green lawns that also protect the Indian River Lagoon. The program partners with the Indian River Lagoon National Estuary Program, the local UF Extension Office and Florida Institute of Technology to certify individuals and landscape contractors.
“All Brevard County residents who work so hard to protect our lagoon and keep our community clean should be very proud of this award,” said Tony Sasso, executive director of Keep Brevard Beautiful. “We are honored to accept it on their behalf.”
