LAFAYETTE, LA – Keep Louisiana Beautiful (KLB) is recognizing six Louisiana organizations and residents for their exemplary efforts to keep the state beautiful. The organization will honor the winners with the distinction of “Everyday Hero” at the 12th annual state conference awards banquet in Lafayette, Louisiana, on Thursday, October 1, 2015. Award recipients were selected from a publically nominated roster of nonprofits, KLB affiliates, businesses, professional groups, governmental agencies, civic and community organizations, schools, churches and individuals.
Held at the Lafayette Science Museum, KLB’s state conference, that will run from Thursday, October 1, 2015, through Friday, October 2, 2015, marks the yearly culmination of the most up-to-date information on the impact of litter and expert resources for state beautification. The awards dinner will feature special guest speaker Marcus Eriksen, co-founder of 5Gyres, an organization working to research aquatic plastic pollution and find solutions for regaining a plastic-free ocean.
“Everyday Hero” award winners are:
• Dr. Alice Pecoraro – Alice Foster Award: Named after Louisiana’s former First Lady, this award recognizes an individual volunteer for their exceptional leadership in litter prevention, waste reduction, recycling and beautification. After retiring from Nicholls State University in 2003, Pecoraro tirelessly devoted 12 years of service on the boards of KLB affiliates in Morgan City and St. Mary Parish.
• Gregory Guidroz – Golden Can Award: Honoring a public servant who displays a deep commitment to KLB’s mission in their daily work by going above and beyond the call of duty. Guidroz is the recreation and education coordinator for the Lafayette Parish Bayou Vermilion District, which works to preserve and promote the parish’s unique environment and culture.
Franklin Foundation Hospital (FFH) – Corporate Leadership Award: recognizing a business that demonstrates a consistent dedication to KLB’s mission, environmental stewardship and community enrichment. Affiliated with Keep St. Mary Beautiful since 2009, FFH has participated in 66 cleanups with 468 participants and more than 700 volunteer hours – a contribution totaling almost $50,000.
• Keep Morehouse Beautiful (KMB) – Most Innovative Program: Honoring a successful beautification, litter prevention or waste reduction program led by a school, civic group, non-profit or KLB affiliate. By providing financial incentives or working with governmental agencies and property owners, KMB has made possible the demolition of 14 blighted structures since the program began in 2010.
• Taylor Renee Wagner – Youth Award: Recognizing a student or youth-led group that displays creative thinking and demonstrates effective leadership that engages peers and makes a significant impact on their community. After witnessing first-hand the tremendous amount of litter through the Bayou Lafourche Cleanup, Wagner established an Ecology Club at her school to get students involved and educated about the environmental issues at hand. Through her ongoing dedication, she raised funds to install an 8-yard recycling bin, as well as individual recycling bins, at the school.
• Keep Slidell Beautiful (KSB) – Outstanding Affiliate: Recognizing a KLB affiliate that shows fortitude, leadership, creative and diverse programming, as well as community engagement. Through the leadership of longtime Executive Director Bill Mauser, KSB’s combined 2014-15 community service and volunteer hours totaled 14,237 hours. Although the majority of volunteer hours are clocked during the Great American Cleanup and the Fall Citywide Cleanup events, volunteers also work on extensive litter abatement, beautification and community improvement projects throughout the year.
There is still time to register to attend the 2015 annual conference and KLB encourages affiliates, teachers, partners, volunteers, community leaders, state agency representatives, and parish and city officials to secure their spots now.
