Keep America Beautiful Honors Outstanding Community Leaders and Innovators with 2023 National Awards

Keep America Beautiful® is pleased to announce the recipients of its 2023 National Awards program, including 31 individuals and community organizations. Winners were announced during the Keep America Beautiful National Conference held in San Diego, California on February 12, 2024. 

“Congratulations to the KAB affiliates, state agencies, and individuals chosen as our 2023 award recipients. Your efforts serve as a testament to leadership and the innovation necessary to create cleaner, greener, and more beautiful communities, revitalizing a sense of pride within communities across the country,” said Jennifer Lawson, President and CEO of Keep America Beautiful. 

Winners were selected in the following categories: 

      • Individual Achievement Awards: Lady Bird Johnson Award; Sue Smith Professional Leadership Award 
      • Innovation Awards: State and Local Affiliate Innovation Awards 
      • State Agency Partnership Recognition Awards 

The Lady Bird Johnson Award, named after the former First Lady, is a gender-neutral recognition presented to outstanding volunteers who have demonstrated exceptional leadership with a minimum of 10 years of service in enhancing their local communities—making them cleaner, greener, and more beautiful. Lady Bird Johnson, known for engaging the nation in recognizing the direct link between aesthetic beauty and a better quality of life, inspired the creation of this award. It aims to showcase the dedicated passion and commitment of individuals to keeping their communities beautiful and healthy. 

This year’s recipient of the Keep America Beautiful Lady Bird Johnson Award is Margie Stipes. Stipes has volunteered for Irving, Texas since moving there in 1955. She joined the Keep Irving Beautiful Board of Directors in 2002 and continues to serve on the board. She is currently the secretary, and until this past year was the longtime chair of the Volunteer Recognition Committee, which included being the hostess of the Mayor and KIB Annual Awards, a position she particularly loved. In the words of her nominator, Richard Hose, Keep Irving Beautiful: 

“Margie is an outstanding example to other affiliates by the numerous ways she has volunteered, whether it is by serving as a board officer, representing KIB at schools and community events, or working side-by-side with other volunteers in planting trees or picking up litter.” 

The Sue Smith Professional Leadership Award is named in honor of Sue Smith, the former Director of Education & Training and former Director of Keep America Beautiful-Chicago, who currently serves as the Interim Director. This award goes to an Executive Director of an affiliate (for at least 5 years) who has exhibited outstanding support of the Keep America Beautiful mission and Model for Change methodology. They inspire other affiliate directors, implement innovative Keep America Beautiful programs and initiatives in all impact areas, and provide leadership at the national level. The 2023 recipients are Jan Richardson of Keep Ridgeland Beautiful (MS), and Kimberly White of Keep Cobb Beautiful (GA). 

“This year’s winners exemplify the very best of our work at Keep America Beautiful,” said Sue Smith. “I am humbled to have my name associated with KAB and honored to present this award again this year.” 

The Keep America Beautiful Innovation Awards honor affiliates that have developed innovative partnerships and programs to advance the mission of Keep America Beautiful. These awards spotlight true innovation, including unique ideas or methods, and/or creative or non-traditional approaches to overcoming challenges. The Innovation Awards acknowledge new ideas and concepts that help contribute to organizational growth. An innovative partnership or program may be original in concept or involve the development of novel and distinct methods within established partnerships or programs. 

Innovation Awards for 2023 are awarded to the following: 

      • Keep Mendenhall Beautiful (MS) – Local Partnership (Population 30,000 and under) 
      • Keep Conway Beautiful (SC) – Local Program (Population 30,000 and under) 
      • Keep Kingsport Beautiful (TN) – Local Partnership (Population 30,001 – 100,000) 
      • Keep North Miami Beautiful (FL) – Local Program (Population 30,001 – 100,000) 
      • Keep North Charleston Beautiful (SC) – Local Partnership (Population 100,001 – 250,000) 
      • Keep Irving Beautiful (TX) – Local Program (Population 100,001 – 250,000) 
      • Keep the TN River Beautiful (TN) – Local Partnership (Population 250,001 and over) 
      • Keep Tampa Bay Beautiful (FL) – Local Program (Population 250,001 and over) 
      • PalmettoPride/Keep South Carolina Beautiful (SC) – State Partnership (Population 250,001 and over) 
      • Keep Virginia Beautiful, Inc. (VA) – State Program (Population 250,001 and over) 

The Keep America Beautiful State Agency Partnership Recognition Award honors the State Department of Transportation, Environmental Quality, and/or other state agencies for their support of Keep America Beautiful State Affiliates. These are the partners that help our State Affiliates get the job done, and Keep America Beautiful is grateful for their support and partnership. 

State Agency Partnership Recognition Awards for 2023 are awarded to the following: 

      • CALTRANS – Keep California Beautiful 
      • California State University – Keep California Beautiful   
      • CalRecycle – Keep California Beautiful 
      • Delaware Department of Transportation – Keep Delaware Beautiful 
      • Delaware Solid Waste Authority – Keep Delaware Beautiful 
      • Keep Mississippi Beautiful & MDOT – Keep Mississippi Beautiful 
      • Keep Mississippi Beautiful – MS Agricultural and Forestry Museum – Keep Mississippi Beautiful 
      • Ohio Department of Natural Resources – Keep Ohio Beautiful  
      • Ohio Department of Transportation – Keep Ohio Beautiful 
      • Ohio Environmental Protection Agency – Keep Ohio Beautiful 
      • Oklahoma Turnpike Authority – Keep Oklahoma Beautiful 
      • Oklahoma Department of Agriculture Food and Forestry – Keep Oklahoma Beautiful 
      • Oklahoma Department of Transportation – Keep Oklahoma Beautiful 
      • Oklahoma Department of Environmental Quality – Keep Oklahoma Beautiful  
      • PA Department of Transportation – Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful   
      • PA Department of Environmental Protection – Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful  
      • Tennessee Department of Tourist Development – Keep Tennessee Beautiful  
      • Tennessee Department of Transportation Highway Beautification Office – Keep Tennessee Beautiful  

    Congratulations to the 2023 National Award winners from Keep America Beautiful and thank you for your hard work and commitment to ensure everyone lives in a beautiful community. 

    About Keep America Beautiful®:

    Keep America Beautiful®, the nation’s leading community improvement nonprofit organization, inspires and educates people to take action every day to improve and beautify their community environment. Established in 1953, Keep America Beautiful® strives to End Littering, Improve Recycling, and Beautify America’s Communities. We believe everyone has a right to live in a clean, green, and beautiful community, and shares a responsibility to contribute to that vision. The organization is driven by the work and passion of 700 Keep America Beautiful® affiliates, millions of volunteers, and the collaborative support of corporate partners, social and civic service organizations, academia, municipalities, elected officials, and individuals. Join us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Linkedin, and YouTube. Donate and take action at kab.org.

    MEDIA CONTACTS:

    McCall Vrydaghs

    Keep America Beautiful®

    communications@kab.org