The City of Gastonia’s Keep Gastonia Beautiful program received a Keep America Beautiful Affiliate of the Month Award for January 2024. The award features the positive work being done by the organization’s network of 700 certified affiliates.
“To be awarded Affiliate of the Month out of 700 plus affiliates is a great honor. We are excited to share all of the community-building activities we do locally to inspire other affiliates to grow their organizations,” said Juliann Lehman, Keep Gastonia Beautiful Administrator. “While this monthly honor is just a snapshot of the work Keep Gastonia Beautiful is doing, we ask citizens of Gastonia to join us in creating a cleaner and greener city.”
- In 2022, Keep Gastonia Beautiful was awarded the National Innovation Award from Keep America Beautiful which celebrated the installation of a mosaic art piece in downtown Gastonia, which included metal bees that connected citizens with information on the importance of bees and also featured many of our historic buildings.
- In 2023, Keep Gastonia Beautiful was awarded the Martin Luther King, Jr. Community Improvement Grant from Keep America Beautiful that encourages activities such as planting gardens, painting murals, installing lighting and trash/recycling infrastructure, and engaging youth, while addressing environmental equity in areas within and around Martin Luther King Jr. Way corridors and neighborhoods. Keep Gastonia Beautiful used the grant funds to install a mural at the at Erwin Community Center to celebrate the rich history of the Highland Community.
Established in 1953, Keep America Beautiful® strives to End Littering, Improve Recycling, and Beautify America’s Communities. KAB believes 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.