STAMFORD, Conn. (Sept. 6, 2017) — Motivated by the need caused by the devastation from Hurricane Harvey and the threat of Hurricane Irma, Keep America Beautiful, the nation’s iconic community improvement nonprofit organization, today launched the Community Restoration and Resiliency Fund. Lowe’s, a long-time national sponsor of Keep America Beautiful®, has agreed to become a founding member of the fund with a donation of more than $125,000. Individuals and businesses can donate now at act.kab.org/KABfund.
More than two dozen local Keep America Beautiful Affiliates and scores of other local partners serve communities with millions of people directly impacted by Hurricane Harvey. In addition to two of the organization’s State Affiliates, Keep Texas Beautiful and Keep Louisiana Beautiful, local Keep America Beautiful Affiliates serving impacted communities include those in: Alvin, Angleton, Corpus Christi, Cuero, Dickinson, Galveston, Houston, Katy, Lake Jackson, Pearland, Port Aransas, Richwood, Sugar Land and Victoria, Texas as well as Calcasieu Parish and Lake Charles, Louisiana, among others.
“As the devastating impact of Hurricane Harvey became clear — and with the dangerous threat of Hurricane Irma — we’ve been discussing our role and that of our Affiliates in helping communities recover and rebuild,” said Helen Lowman, president and CEO, Keep America Beautiful. “For generations, Keep America Beautiful and its Affiliates have supported critical public space restoration projects that help remedy property damaged or destroyed by natural disasters.”
Initially, donations to the Community Restoration and Resiliency Fund will benefit Keep America Beautiful Affiliates and other partner organizations which serve communities directly affected by Harvey and Irma. The fund will provide immediate and long-term support for initial and ongoing cleanup efforts and to help rebuild vital public spaces: parks, greenways, community gateways, Main Street/downtown areas, open spaces and more. Funds will help improve resiliency physically — as green infrastructure — and socially — to build community.
“Public spaces are the heart of a community, providing safe, welcoming and beautiful places for neighbors to gather, love, laugh and heal during the long journey towards a ‘new normal’ for survivors and the community at-large. Cleaning and restoring beautiful public spaces — and improving their resiliency for the future — can play an important role in the overall recovery of a city, town or neighborhood and help to strengthen a sense of community,” added Lowman.
Through the fund, Keep America Beautiful will provide financial aid, technical support, in-kind donations and other resources to Keep America Beautiful Affiliates and other community partners whose communities and residents will be living with the aftermath of widespread devastation for months and years to come.
Longer term, the fund will offer other communities beyond those impacted by Hurricane Harvey and Irma with financial means, technical support and resources to renovate and rebuild public spaces after natural disasters or other unanticipated events or before they occur to improve physical resilience.
In addition to Lowe’s, other corporations donating to the Keep America Beautiful Community Restoration and Resiliency Fund include Dickinson’s Witch Hazel Skincare, Keurig Green Mountain, Inc., and Santa Fe Natural Tobacco Company.
Donate now at act.kab.org/KABfund.
Keep America Beautiful is proud to be recognized as a Charity Navigator 4-Star Charity, a Guidestar Gold Participant, and a Charity Watch Top-Rated Charity.
About Keep America Beautiful
Keep America Beautiful, the nation’s iconic community improvement nonprofit organization, inspires and educates people to take action every day to improve and beautify their community environment. Established in 1953, we strive 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.
Behavior change – steeped in education, research and behavioral science – is the cornerstone of Keep America Beautiful. We empower generations of community stewards with volunteer programs, hands-on experiences, curricula, practical advice and other resources to deliver measurable environmental, economic and social benefits. The organization is driven by more than 600 state and local Affiliates, millions of volunteers, and the support of corporate partners, social and civic service organizations, academia, municipalities and government officials. Join us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and YouTube. Donate and take action at kab.org.
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