Detroit Deputy Mayor Kirk Lewis Announces Keep America Beautiful Affiliation

Cleanup, Beautification and Adoption Programs Combined Under Keep Detroit Beautiful

STAMFORD, Conn. (April 25, 2012) — Detroit Deputy Mayor Kirk Lewis announced today the certification of Keep Detroit Beautiful as an affiliate of the Keep America Beautiful. In addition, Lewis announced that Keep America Beautiful (KAB) will serve as the umbrella for the City’s cleanup, beautification and adoption programs.

On hand for the announcement in the Mayor’s Office were Lewis, Keep Detroit Beautiful Director Lori Cunningham, Keep America Beautiful Director of Special Projects Sue Smith, Keep Michigan Beautiful President Bob Ramsey, Chrysler Elementary Principal Linda Whitaker and Patricia Dockery, Northend Central Woodward Alliance Executive Director.

The mission of Keep Detroit Beautiful (KDB) is to improve the quality of life in the city of Detroit through community partnerships, City services and individual participation focusing on litter prevention, education, recycling and cleanup efforts for a safe, green and beautiful environment.

Motor City Makeover, Great American Cleanup, Adopt-A-Park, Adopt-A-Shelter and Adopt-A-Lot/Garden are now part of the Keep Detroit Beautiful effort. City departments, such as Public Works, Recreation, General Services, Greater Detroit Resource Recovery Authority (GDRRA), Planning and Development, Community Access Centers and Transportation (DDOT), will work together to support the effort.

The Keep Detroit Beautiful Taskforce was created by the late City Councilmember Kay Everett. Councilwoman Brenda Jones also led the initiative until 2012, when she established a partnership with the Mayor’s Office, and the taskforce became an affiliate. Waste Management is a national sponsor and donated $5,000 to assist the City of Detroit with its certification.

The goal of KAB and KDB is to motivate communities in Detroit to improve their neighborhoods through recycling, anti-litter programs, graffiti prevention, tree planting and other beautification activities. Keep America Beautiful combines education with hands-on stewardship to make America’s communities cleaner, greener, safer and more livable.

About Keep America Beautiful, Inc.
Keep America Beautiful, Inc., established in 1953, is the nation’s largest volunteer-based community action and education organization. With a network of more than 1,200 affiliate and participating organizations, Keep America Beautiful forms public-private partnerships and programs that engage individuals to take greater responsibility for improving their community environments. For more information, visit www.kab.org.

 ###