2013 GRANT SUBMISSIONS ARE NOW OPEN!

KVB is proud to bring back our very successful and highly anticipated “30 Grants in 30 Days” program.  We would like to thank our generous sponsor for 2013; Lowe’s Home Improvement.  Without them, these grants would not be possible!

The 2013 “30 Grants in 30 Days” program  is once again designed to help communities, schools, parks, neighborhoods, and civic groups battle Virginia’s environmental issues on the front lines.  These grants are categorized in 3 areas; (1) Litter Prevention, (2) Recycling, and (3) Beautification and Community Greening.  Thirty grants of $500 will be awarded to 30 geographically different areas around the Commonwealth within the 3 categories, to be dispersed amongst small to large communities, schools to universities, city parks to state parks, civic clubs to environmental groups.  These grants will be awarded in the 30 days of June.  Please fill out the grant application below.

Important Dates:

Application Deadline: May 15,2013

Applicants Notified: Starting May 31, 2013

Winners Announced Daily: June 1 through June 30, 2013

Grant Projected Completed By: October 31, 2013

Results Reported By: November 15, 2013

Categories:

• Litter Prevention – Grants will awarded to parks, communities, government or non-profit entities that implement programs within targeted geographic boundaries in Virginia to reduce litter. Funding would support educational outreach materials,  and clean-up events.  The purpose of these grants is to support sustainable prevention and a measurable reduction of  litter within Virginia’s communities.
• Recycling – Grants will be awarded to schools, parks, communities, government or non-profit entities that implement programs within targeted geographic boundaries in Virginia to reduce waste and increase recycling. Funding would support educational outreach materials, receptacles, and recycling launch events.  The purpose of these grants is to promote waste reduction and a measurable increase in reuse and recycling within Virginia’s communities.
• Beautification and Community Greening - Grants will be awarded to schools, parks, communities, government or non-profit entities within targeted geographic boundaries in Virginia which support programs that beautify and clean including community gardens, restoring vacant lots, highway and shoreline enhancement, plantings, and graffiti abatement. Funding would support community clean-ups, revitalization projects, and sustainable neighborhood gardens.  The purpose of these grants is to support beautification efforts within Virginia’s communities.

2013 Sponsor

To apply for a “30 in 30″ Grant, http://www.keepvirginiabeautiful.org/outreach/grants/

We’ve accomplished a great deal over the past Sixty years.  And yes, it has been six decades since the Virginia Anti-Litterbug Council became the Keep Virginia Beautiful that you know and love today.  We’ve awarded grants, recognized greatness in areas like recycling, litter prevention and beautification, and seen a whole bunch of Virginians grow up to raise the next generation of concerned and active citizens.

2012 was certainly no different.  Here are some highlights:

• We participated in the Great American Cleanup.  This state-wide event saw Keep America Beautiful choosing us to lead Virginia, and the Nation, in a National Day of Action.  Starting in Hampton Roads, groups like Ask HR Green joined us in uniting thousands of volunteers in hundreds of projects across the state.  And that was just a small portion of what got accomplished during the Great American Cleanup.

• Year Two of our Thirty in 30 Grant Program.  To celebrate Earth Day, each April we award thirty grants in 30 days to deserving civic groups, non-profits, schools and neighborhood associations across the Commonwealth.  Each of these groups are committed to the Keep Virginia Beautiful impact areas of beautification, litter prevention, recycling, education, and waste reduction.  From the ocean to the Western mountains, groups got a little seed money for trash cans, recycling bags, educational programs, community gardens and more.

• We gave a great gift to our State Parks for America Recycles Day.  Our State Parks do a great job of showcasing the most beautiful aspects of our Commonwealth, educate many about what our natural expanses have to offer, and try to do their best to keep Virginia beautiful.  They’re understandably eco-minded, and do a great job with litter programs and reducing their footprint, but recycling has been hard for them.  With a generous grant from Dominion Virginia Power, we were able to install the first of many recycling bins in some of the parks.  By the end of 2013 we hope to have bins in all 35 of our parks.

• We got our groove on at the Richmond Folk Festival. One of our favorite opportunities is participating in events and festivals where we can meet large groups of people and enlist them in our mission to Keep Virginia Beautiful.  The Folk Festival is the perfect opportunity.  It brought hundreds of thousands of people to Richmond to enjoy folk, world and ethnic foods and music on the banks of the James River over the course of three days.  Many of them signed our pledge to Keep Virginia Beautiful, and we were able to spearhead an effort to place recycling bins throughout the event, sending tons of trash out to be reused instead of sending them to the dump.

And 2013 promises to be as exciting a year as we’ve ever had.  We’ll once again hold our annual Golf Tournament, we’re gearing up for another fantastic Great American Cleanup, and we’ll be at the various fairs and festivals throughout the state.  We’ll be back and stronger with more grants with our third Thirty in 30 program, and so much more.  We’re especially excited about an event that we just started planning:  Our 60th Anniversary Gala.  This will be a blow-out event to meet many of you, raise some funds to move some of our programs forward, and recognize some groups and individuals who have done so much to keep Virginia Beautiful.  As part of that celebration, we’ll be catching people in a Beautiful Act, we’ll be holding an art auction, and partnering with some of the many like-minded groups and organizations across Virginia.

Thank you to all who have helped to make 2012 such a banner year for Keep Virginia Beautiful, and keep your ears open as our 2013 continues to unfold.

In honor of Earth Day, we awarded 30 Grants in 30 days through April and May.  We awarded Grants ranging from $500 to $1,000 to schools, parks, towns, environmental groups, associations, KVB affiliates, and historic neighborhoods in three different categories:  Litter Prevention, Recycling, and Beautification/Community Greening.  Our Grant Winners stretched from the Chesapeake Bay and oceanfront, through the Shenandoah Valley, to the Western Mountains, and from Northern Virginia to our Southern border.

These Grants were made possible by our fantastic partners, Capital One, Waste Management, and Lowe’s.  Here is a list of our 2012 “30 in 30″ Grant Winners:

James River Association, Statewide          Virginia Supportive Housing, Charlottesville

Holy Cross Academy, Fredericksburg          Keep Suffolk Beautiful, Suffolk

Claytor Lake State Park, Pulaski County          Innsbrook Foundation, Short Pump

United Methodist Urban Ministries of Richmond          Patrick Henry Boys and Girls, South Boston

Richmond Habitat for Humanity, Richmond          New Roots Youth Garden, Cape Charles

Fallon Park Elementary School, Roanoke          Rappahannock Group Sierra Club, Fredericksburg

Metropolitan Day School, Richmond          VA Aquarium and Marine Science Center, Virginia Beach

Chamberlayne Elementary School, Henrico          Capital Area Food Bank, Lorton

Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Richmond & Tri-Cities

Thomas Jefferson Soil and Water District, Charlottesville

EarthKorps, Edinburg

Friends of Pocahontas State Park, Chesterfield

Deep Creek Middle School, Chesapeake

Big Day of Serving, Manassas

Buckingham Middle School, Buckingham            Chesapeake Bay Governor’s School, Tappahannock

Isle of Wight County          Town of Luray

Community Preservation and Development Corporation, Alexandria

Friends of Bryan Park, Richmond          Chesapeake Arboretum, Chesapeake

Dan River Basin Association, Collinsville

All of these groups support our mission at Keep Virginia Beautiful; To engage and unite Virginians to improve our natural and scenic environment.  Our goals include becoming the leading statewide voice, providing a framework for improved communication and collaboration, cultivating and supporting sustainable programs, and engaging citizens by linking them to volunteer opportunities and information through these five impact areas:  Litter Prevention, Waste Reduction, Recycling, Beautification, and Environmental Education.

Congratulations again to all of our 2012 “30 in 30″ winners, and we look forward to providing you with some updates on their programs!

Mike Baum is the Executive Director of Keep Virginia Beautiful

For those of you keeping score, this is our 30th Grant Winner!  We have been awarding daily grants in April and May to organizations and groups around the Commonwealth who wish to help Keep Virginia Beautiful’s mission of litter prevention, recycling, waste reduction, beautification, and education.  Our “30 in 30″ program is made possible by some fantastic partners:  Capital One, Waste Management, and Lowe’s.

Today’s winner is the Dan River Basin Association!  They are receiving $750 in the Litter Prevention category.

The Dan River Basin Association(DRBA) is going to launch a unique anti-litter campaign along the Smith River in Henry County.  The banks of the river are littered with styrofoam bait cups, snack wrappers, discarded cans, and tangled fishing line.  Much has been made about this issue in the local media, and the county is seriously considering installing cameras in order to identify and hopefully prosecute the litterbugs.  The DRBA, however, has a much better and clever idea.

They feel, and we agree, that the best way to combat litter is to start with children.  Engaging children in fighting litter trickles UP!  They learn the importance of Keeping Virginia Beautiful and get their parents involved as well.  If one child is doing it, every child will want to, and no family wants to be left out!  The DRBA is partnering with the Henry County Public Schools to create an Art/Slogan Contest.  They will use artwork and slogans designed by Henry County students for an anti-litter campaign.  The winning entries will be used on signage, t-shirts, caps, stickers, and other items that will be distributed all over the area.  Henry County is proposing to use the artwork on their new garbage trucks, so as they travel the county it will be a reminder to NOT LITTER!  Henry County students will have a sense of accomplishment for having an impact, have the pride of seeing their artwork and words across the county, and will receive valuable education about the litter problem along the Smith River.

The DRBA is also holding a county-wide event along the Smith River to get some hands dirty and clean up some of the litter that is already there.  They think that this campaign, and engaging all of these children, will have a huge impact on the problem, will bring a large number of people to the clean up, and maybe even attract some media!  Folks who live along the Smith River in Henry County will feel a tremendous sense of pride in their community and their youngsters.

Keep Virginia Beautiful is awarding “30 Grants In 30 Days” in April and May 2012.  The Chesapeake Arboretum has been awarded a $750 grant in the Beautification and Community Greening Category.  The KVB 30 in 30 grant program focuses greater resources and attention on organizations and individual localities throughout the Commonwealth and how they are addressing the issues of litter prevention, recycling, waste reduction, beautification and education.

KVB provided the opportunity for government, non-profit and/or service organizations in Virginia to apply for one of thirty grants ranging from $500 to $1,000 in three different categories:  Beautification, Litter Prevention, and Recycling.  These grants are made possible by KVB partners – Capital One, Waste Management and Lowe’s.

The Chesapeake Arboretum currently boasts approximately 47 acres of urban forest highlighted by 3 specialty trails — including the Native Woodland Garden area, which was dedicated on April 2, 2011 to the memory of their late President, Jean Marie Eagler.  This Native Woodland Garden Area needs colorful enhancement to reach its full potential and they seek to install more showy native woodland flowers, shrubs and vines.  Volunteers from the Chesapeake Master Gardeners and the Virginia Native Plant Society (among many other volunteers) stand ready to install these plant materials as it becomes available to them.  Most of the current stock has been donated, but there are many species and varieties that would make the Native Woodland Garden Area truly stand-out.  While the Native Woodland Garden Area is already popular with visitors “as is”, we expect the enhancements to provide not only much-improved aesthetic appeal, but also expanded opportunities for educational outreach as a demonstration area with eco-friendly educational signage along the 3 trails.

The mission at Keep Virginia Beautiful is to engage and unite Virginians to improve our natural and scenic environment through 5 impact areas: Litter Prevention, Waste Reduction, Recycling, Beautification, and Environmental Education.

The Friends of Bryan Park has been awarded a $500 grant in the Beautification and Community Greening Category.  The Keep Virginia Beautiful 30 in 30 grant program focuses greater resources and attention on organizations and individual localities throughout the Commonwealth and how they are addressing the issues of litter prevention, recycling, waste reduction, beautification and education.

Keep Virginia Beautiful provided the opportunity for government, non-profit and/or service organizations in Virginia to apply for one of thirty grants ranging from $500 to $1,000 in three different categories:  Beautification, Litter Prevention, and Recycling.  These grants are made possible by our generous partners – Capital One, Waste Management and Lowe’s.

As a service project in 2006, a local church planted the Better Together Garden in Joseph Bryan Park in Richmond.  With Friends of Bryan Park’s (FoBP) help, four beds were created, a gravel path was laid out and trees were planted.  Unfortunately, the church was unable to maintain the garden after the first couple of years and the garden is now in need of a tremendous amount of restoration.  FoBP plan is to restore and enhance this garden by planting native sun loving species that will attract butterflies, pollinating insects and birds.  With the help of the Riverine Chapter of the Virginia Master Naturalists, Friends of Bryant Park and its many volunteers will work tirelessly through the spring and fall to restore this once beautiful garden and create a natural habitat that can be enjoyed by all of Mother Nature’s creatures great and small.  Additionally, visitors will learn that planting natives is a win-win proposition for both the beauty of a garden and their sustainability for the environment.

The mission at Keep Virginia Beautiful is to engage and unite Virginians to improve our natural and scenic environment through 5 impact areas:  Litter Prevention, Waste Reduction, Recycling, Beautification, and Environmental Education.

The Town of Luray has been awarded a $750 grant in the Recycling Category.  The Keep Virginia Beautiful 30 in 30 grant program focuses greater resources and attention on organizations and individual localities throughout the Commonwealth and how they are addressing the issues of litter prevention, recycling, waste reduction, beautification and education.

Luray has recently progressed from a small town into an event and tourist destination.  The Festival of Spring will be held on May 12th and draws more than 5,000 visitors to town.  In addition, the town will host the annual Luray Triathlon on August 18th & 19th with last year resulting in over 1,400 participants and an estimated 6,000 visitors.  2012 is especially an exciting time for the town’s visitors and citizens with over 40 events already planned, in addition to the town’s 200th Anniversary celebration.  Currently, the town owns about twelve recycling bins that are set up at each event.  These portable bins allow the town to reduce refuse by providing an easy and convenient location for recycling thereby helping maintain the natural beauty in the Shenandoah Valley.  In order to continue this important litter prevention and recycling program, Luray will purchase several more bins and bags.  The need for this is great, as Luray has already initiated a strong town-wide recycling program at NO COST to town citizens.  In addition, the presence of these portable containers at all events will only solidify the Town’s commitment to being a true “green” community.

KVB provided the opportunity for government, non-profit and/or service organizations in Virginia to apply for one of thirty grants ranging from $500 to $1,000 in three different categories: Beautification, Litter Prevention, and Recycling. These grants are made possible by KVB partners – Capital One, Waste Management and Lowe’s.

The mission at Keep Virginia Beautiful is to engage and unite Virginians to improve our natural and scenic environment through 5 impact areas: Litter Prevention, Waste Reduction, Recycling, Beautification, and Environmental Education.

Keep Virginia Beautiful is awarding “30 Grants In 30 Days” in April and May 2012.  Isle of Wight County has been awarded a $750 grant in the Litter Prevention Category.  Our 30 in 30 grant program focuses greater resources and attention on organizations and individual localities throughout the Commonwealth and how they are addressing the issues of litter prevention, recycling, waste reduction, beautification and education.

We provided the opportunity for government, non-profit and/or service organizations in Virginia to apply for one of thirty grants ranging from $500 to $1,000 in three different categories:  Beautification, Litter Prevention, and Recycling. These grants are made possible by KVB partners – Capital One, Waste Management and Lowe’s.

Isle of Wight County recognizes the significant contribution that cigarettes make to the overall amount of litter in the community.  The County established a recycling program called Isle Be Green, which initially focused on plastic bag recycling; however, when the County took over its own recycling in 2010, the program was expanded to become the umbrella for all recycling efforts within the County.  Isle of Wight County will use the KVB grant to place cigarette receptacles throughout the Town of Smithfield by using established partnerships with local businesses.  In addition, the County seeks to create educational materials about cigarette litter and its effects on the environment, tourism, and economic development. Furthermore, they would like to purchase portable ash trays to distribute at various events that Isle Be Green representatives attend.  The County seeks to clean up cigarette litter by focusing on one sector of the County at a time.  Downtown Smithfield is a great place to pilot a sustainable cigarette litter prevention program.

The mission at Keep Virginia Beautiful is to engage and unite Virginians to improve our natural and scenic environment through 5 impact areas: Litter Prevention, Waste Reduction, Recycling, Beautification, and Environmental Education.