Great American CleanupTM “Green Starts Here” was again the event theme, rallying civic leaders and volunteer groups to action in creating cleaner, greener communities. More than 1,200 local organizations coordinated more than 30,000 community-building events that improved the quality of life everywhere from city blocks to the vast open spaces of our public lands. Great American Cleanup events are often the first eco-volunteerism exposure that children and their families experience together. Seeing volunteers working together is overwhelming, igniting a passion to continue volunteering when the Great American Cleanup is long over.
The Great American Cleanup provides a wonderful opportunity to inspire civic engagement that addresses the very real challenges of our times. Matt McKenna, president and CEO, Keep America Beautiful
“Volunteers are essential to strengthening our communities, boosting our local economies, and protecting our shared environment,” said Matt McKenna, president and CEO of Keep America Beautiful. “The Great American Cleanup provides a wonderful opportunity to inspire civic engagement that addresses the very real challenges of our times.” Thanks to KAB affiliates and Great American Cleanup participating organizations, supported by National Sponsors and Partners, our volunteers were again able to accomplish significant results.
Community cleanups remain at the heart of the Great American Cleanup. In 2010 alone, 76 million pounds of litter and debris were collected by volunteers. Keep Cincinnati Beautiful participates in the annual Ohio State Roadway Cleanup with the Ohio Department of Transportation; in 2010, volunteers collected nearly 45,000 pounds of litter and debris. The GAC also serves as an opportunity for volunteers to protect and preserve public lands, including more than 71,000 acres of national, state and county parklands. In just one example, Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful’s aggressive statewide illegal dump site program remediated a total of 67 sites. (continued on page 34)
Volunteers bring a boatload of debris to shore during the Boone Lake Cleanup in Johnson City, Tenn. Photo courtesy of Keep Johnson City Beautiful.
Keep America Beautiful, Inc.
2010 Annual Review