Keep Texas Beautiful (KTB), a statewide grassroots environmental and community improvement non-profit organization, recently named Laredo a Silver Star Affiliate, a designation granted to only 30 of KTB’s nearly 300 affiliates. Silver Star recognition is the second-highest status any community affiliate can achieve.
“Keep Laredo Beautiful (KLB) is proud of this accomplishment; KLB works to raise awareness of environmental stewardship through public art installations that promote a clean and litter free environment,” stated John Porter, director of the Laredo Environmental Services Department in which KLB originated.
“KLB will continue with its initiatives to beautifying through tree-planting and litter mitigation and maintaining its strategic partnerships,” he said.
Keep Laredo Beautiful submitted its annual report, among other items, to Keep Texas Beautiful, which catalogued all its activity in 2019 in order to receive the 2020 designation. To remain in good standing with KTB, community affiliates must submit a report, pay dues, attend training, and participate in a KTB-endorsed activity annually.
In 2004, the organization introduced the concept of Silver Star recognition to reward those communities who sought to go above and beyond the established requirements. To achieve this status, affiliates must share information on their mission and goals, answer questions about their partnerships and underserved populations, or participate in the Keep Texas Beautiful Awards or Governor’s Community Achievement Awards programs and provide a letter of support from their community. KTB formally recognized Silver Star communities during its 53rd Annual Conference in its first ever on-line event August 25-26, 2020.
“Our affiliates are the backbone of our organization. We are proud to honor those going above and beyond to keep their communities clean and beautiful,” said Suzanne Kho, executive director of KTB. “Our Silver Star Affiliates are educating and engaging community members, actively recruiting and managing volunteers, hosting cleanup and beautification events throughout their community, and so much more.”
In 2019 alone, KTB affiliates engaged 71,586 volunteers who contributed 351,953 hours to collect four million pounds of waste and recyclables and clean 16,212 miles of Texas roadway, trails, and waterways. Laredo successfully implemented programs to clean up litter, reduce waste, educate local citizens, and beautify and enhance the local community.
Numbers at a glance that account for the successes of Keep Laredo Beautiful are thus:
- 1,881 volunteers contributed to its efforts
- 5,188 volunteer hours logged
- 374 trees planted
- 51,200 pounds of waste collected and disposed of properly
- $22,000 of in-kind value in donations and contributions to events/programs
“This is a total community effort, and KLB is blessed to have some great partners that have really brought these events and people together to better take care of the places that we all care about and enjoy,” stated Blasita J. Lopez, KLB coordinator, “The better the state of our environment the more we contribute to a healthy, sustainable future for our community and those around us.”
(Keep Laredo Beautiful is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization aimed to empower the citizens of Laredo through education to take responsibility for enhancing their community and its environment through litter prevention, beautification, community improvement and minimization of the impact of solid waste. Find out more about our activities, programs and volunteer opportunities at FB/KeepLaredo Beautiful or email us at keeplaredobeautiful@ci.laredo.tx.us.
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 over 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, follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram @keeptxbeautiful.)
