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| Executive Director Katie Loovis presenting Malinda Futrell with a PVSA Award. [Photo by Patrick Nugent, Camera One] |
(Washington, D.C.) --
This week, in celebration of Earth Day, Take Pride in America® joined with Keep America Beautiful for the official kickoff of New York City’s Great American Cleanup. Take Pride in America was there to support its partnership with Keep America Beautiful, and to present a Presidential Volunteer Service Award to a local volunteer, Malinda Futrell, for her more than 25 years of service.
For over 25 years, Futrell has worked as a community garden volunteer, for a total of over 50,000 hours of service. Currently, Futrell works with Martha Stewart’s “Garden for Living,” and she is also the founder of the 6th Street and Avenue B Garden Association.
“Take Pride in America is proud to stand hand in hand with its strong partner Keep America Beautiful,” said Katie Loovis, Executive Director, Take Pride in America. “Being able to present Malinda Futrell with this Presidential Volunteer Service Award, is a true honor and a pleasure. Twenty-five years and 50,000 hours of service should serve as an inspiration to us all. It shows us the difference that just one person can make in the community and in our public lands.”
Running from March 1 through May 31, the Great American Cleanup is a program to promote cleaner, greener communities across America. More than 30,0o0 events in 17,000 communities will remove litter and debris from public lands and waterways, promote recycling, and beautify public spaces with trees, plants and flowers.
About Take Pride in America
Take Pride in America is a national partnership program aimed at increasing volunteer service on America’s public lands. It is the goal of Take Pride in America to empower volunteers from every corner of America to maintain and enhance our natural, cultural, and historical sites. Take Pride in America encourages citizen stewardship through an innovative public awareness campaign and an interactive website that showcases volunteer opportunities at natural and cultural sites.
For more information, visit www.TakePride.gov.
About Keep American Beautiful, Inc.
Keep America Beautiful, Inc., established in 1953, is the nation’s largest volunteer-based community action and education organization. This national nonprofit forms public-private partnerships and programs that engage individuals to take greater responsibility for improving their community environments. The Great American Cleanup is one of its many programs that encourage people to care for communities through volunteer participation. To join the Great American Cleanup and campaign for a cleaner, greener America, visit www.kab.org.