KACCB 2008 National & State Awards

Keep Athens-Clarke County Beautiful (KACCB) was nationally recognized at the Keep America Beautiful 55th National Conference in Washington, D.C., in December 2008. KACCB was awarded the first-place national award for the Toast in the Garden event. The award recognized KACCB for its ability to engage individuals to improve their community environments in a creative, non-traditional way. In addition, KACCB was recognized for highlighting the local community in this fundraising effort.

KACCB also received a second-place national award for outstanding efforts to engage individuals in the implementation of the National Cigarette Litter Prevention Program (CLPP). KACCB received a $2,500 grant in 2007 to raise awareness of cigarette butts as litter. The award came with a $2,000 grant for continued efforts.

State Award

On Wednesday, October 23, 2008, KACCB was awarded a first-place state award in the Litter Prevention Category from the Department of Community Affairs Keep Georgia Beautiful Program. The award recognizes educational and remedial efforts designed to change attitudes and behaviors, resulting in a positive impact on a community. KACCB was recognized for leadership in forming a team of stakeholders that studied cigarette litter in Athens and then worked to create an innovative cigarette litter receptacle. 

The team, including the Public Information Office, the Stormwater Division, the Athens Downtown Development Authority, the Tobacco Prevention Coalition, Keep Athens-Clarke County Beautiful, and Athens Design Development, worked collaboratively to develop the cigarette litter receptacles (CLRs) that would help reduce cigarette litter in downtown Athens. KACCB also won a second-place state award in the Community Improvement Category for the Toast in the Garden event that raises money for community improvement projects.