coast
Keeping the
clear and clean
BY STEPHEN PRUDHOMME | PHOTOS PROVIDED BY PHIL GRAINEY
W
Nonprofit group litters beaches with cleanup volunteers
When Phil and Karen Grainey saw Little Tybee
for the first time in 1995, they were intrigued and
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about Savannah’s founding by the British than someone hailing from across the pond?
captivated with the remote stretch of coastline near
Karen is president of Clean Coast and co-
the Back River. They subsequently explored it and
director of the Center for Sustainable Coast, a
reveled in its unspoiled beauty. 25 years later, Phil
nonprofit group that advocates for responsible
and Karen are doing their part to make sure Little
use, protection and conservation of Coastal
Tybee and other local coastal areas retain their
Georgia’s resources. A native of Jacksonville,
clean and natural look, with the emphasis on clean.
Florida, she developed a love for the ocean and
Phil is a native of England who worked in
coast. After moving to Savannah, Karen joined
restaurant management for a number of years.
Wilderness Southeast as part of its Fish Gotta
Since 2018, his distinctive British accent and dry
Swim program and taught Chatham County
wit have been heard by thousands of visitors taking
school kids about the importance of clean air
his trolley tour in Savannah. Who better to talk
and water. Working with the Sierra Club, she
chatham county living