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.

Keep Virginia Beautiful is awarding “30 Grants In 30 Days” in April and May 2012.  The Community Preservation and Development Corporation (CPDC) has been awarded a $1000 grant in the Beautification and Community Greening 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 at Keep Virginia Beautiful provided the opportunity for government, non-profit and/or service organizations in Virginia to apply for one of 30 grants in 30 days, 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.

The CPDC developed and own the Stoney Brook Apartments in Alexandria, a 204 multi-family unit community of low income residents.  CPDC’s community building model incorporates five essential elements of community development: economic development, resident engagement, health and wellness, education, and green living.  CPCD plans to use this grant money along with community partner donations to start the Stoney Brook Community Garden.  This community garden will provide residents with many fundamental benefits, including; the establishment of a direct connection with nature, forming a relationship with neighbors and community members, the opportunity to develop a communal space for people to learn, share, create and enjoy gardening, and creation of a sustainable healthy and active lifestyle.  In addition, this garden is a new venture in a continual effort to convert the property into an environmentally friendly community.  The vision for the community garden is to create and foster a sense of community through gardening for the residents of Stoney Brook Apartments.  76% of the residents support the addition of a garden to the community’s common space and many are extremely excited about the opportunity to get involved.

Our 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.