Pearland, Texas – Keep Texas Beautiful (KTB) recently announced Keep Pearland Beautiful(KPB) Youth Environmental Council(YEC); as a winner of the 2022 Ruthe Jackson Youth Organization Award. The Beautify Texas Awards, formerly the Keep Texas Beautiful Awards, recognize the efforts of those working to enhance their community and protect the Lone Star State. These awards range in honoring extraordinary volunteers, professionals, youth, educators, businesses, local/civic governments, organizations, and specific projects and programs.
The Ruthe Jackson Youth Organization Award is one of ten categories and recognizes the efforts and leadership of youth (as individuals and their collective efforts as a group or team) to beautify the community and create cleaner, greener campuses, parks and neighborhoods. A youth individual (up to 18 years old) is defined as a student, scout, youth advisory board member, etc.
YEC members participated in litter cleanups for roadway and waterways while doing this they also challenged each other to bring their fellow peers to these litter events. YEC members participated in YEC socials that focused on picking up litter at 3 local parks, collecting over 106 pounds of litter! This gave members an opportunity to get to know each other while maintaining social distance during an uncertain time. Members felt the need to have these social events to get members’ minds off things unknown and find time to relate with each other, to help with their mental health. YEC volunteered at the annual Arbor Day Tree Give-a-way and volunteered with planting trees at the John Hargrove Environmental Complex in March 2021. YEC members planted 65 trees out of the 1,000 trees KPB planted. During the KPB shoe recycling drive, YEC members collected 165 pairs of shoes over the summer in 2021. Members participated in the KPB’s Yardwise Garden workday removing overgrown weeds and plants affected by the February winter freeze. Members created TikToks with an environmental message and content for KPB. KPB’s Youth Environmental Council is incredibly deserving of this recognition. Director of Operations, Lenora Tollefson has been working with this amazing groups of students for the past 4 years and we are honored to be recognizes by our state affiliate, Keep Texas Beautiful.
“We are proud to honor and recognize Texans who are making a difference in our state,” says Suzanne Kho, Executive Director of Keep Texas Beautiful. “Their actions do more than protect the environment: they inspire community members to get involved and help us keep Texas beautiful.” For more than 20 years, Keep Texas Beautiful has recognized extraordinary Texans and Texas institutions who are committed to keeping Texas beautiful. Today, these awards serve as a continued reminder of the hard work and dedication of our supporters across the state.
KPB Youth Environmental Council will be honored at the KTB Annual Conference, which will take place in Austin from June 27 through June 29. A full list of winners and award descriptions, as well as information about the conference can be found at www.ktb.org.
About Keep Texas Beautiful: Keep Texas Beautiful is a network of dedicated Texans working together to make our state the best place to live, work and play. We equip local partners and affiliates with the tools they need to build vibrant, engaged communities. Founded in 1967, Keep Texas Beautiful has more than 50 years of experience deploying resources for local clean-up, recycling, and youth engagement efforts. Everything we do is focused on mobilizing volunteers to take action across the state. As a 501(c)3 nonprofit, we lead nearly 300 affiliates and reach 17 million Texans annually. We are proudly based in Austin, Texas. For more information, visit www.ktb.org or follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram @keeptxbeautiful.
About KPB Youth Environmental Council, www.PearlandRecycles.com.
