One of 82 Texas Communities Honored for Exceptional Community Improvement Efforts
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: 4-24-2023
PRINCETON, TEXAS - Keep Texas Beautiful (KTB), a statewide grassroots environmental and community improvement non-profit organization, recently named Princeton a Gold Star Affiliate. Gold Star recognition is the membership recognition highest status any community affiliate can achieve.
“Our affiliates are the backbone of our organization. We are proud to honor those going above and beyond to keep their communities clean and beautiful,” said Suzanne Kho, Executive Director of Keep Texas Beautiful. “Our Gold Star Affiliates are educating and engaging community members, actively recruiting and managing volunteers, hosting cleanup and beautification events throughout their community and so much more.”
In 2022, KTB affiliates engaged 178,648 volunteers who contributed 78,955 hours to collect 2.4 million pounds of waste and recyclables from Texas roadways, trails, and waterways. Princeton successfully implemented programs to clean up litter, reduce and recycle waste, and educate local citizens.
In October of 2022, the City of Princeton participated in the annual Fall Sweep, engaging over 100 volunteers to collect 9,488 pounds of trash. In November, the City of Princeton and other local organizations planted over 1,200 trees in J.M. Caldwell Sr. Community Park as part of a riparian restoration effort. The City also partnered with Community Waste Disposal (CWD) for its annual Trash-Off event.
“I want to encourage the people of Princeton to be active members of their community, become educated on environmental issues, and make a positive impact. The most rewarding part of both my job and Keep Princeton Beautiful is seeing people connect with nature and each other,” said Mary Abercrombie, Environmental Education Coordinator for the City of Princeton. “This year, we’re excited for another great Fall Sweep and look forward to holding regular readings at the Lois Nelson Public Library.”
In 2004, KTB introduced the concept of Gold Star recognition to recognize those communities who sought to go above and beyond the established requirements. To remain in good standing with KTB, community affiliates must submit a report, pay dues, attend training, and participate in a KTB-endorsed activity annually.
To achieve Gold Star status, affiliates must additionally share information on their mission and goals, answer questions about their economic development and diversity and inclusion practices, or participate in the Beautify Texas Awards or Governor’s Community Achievement Awards programs. They also must provide a letter of support from their community. KTB will formally recognize Gold Star communities during the KTB Conference on June 26-28, 2023.
About Keep Texas Beautiful
Keep Texas Beautiful (KTB) is a non-profit organization dedicated to making Texas the best place to live, work, and play! Our mission is to inspire and empower Texans to make their communities clean and beautiful. We provide resources for community improvement projects, clean-ups, and youth engagement efforts across the state. Our Keep Texas Recycling program provides technical assistance, education, and access to markets to increase recycling in rural and underserved communities. Everything we do is focused on mobilizing volunteers to take action by providing them with tools, resources, and training. Our fieldwork includes research on best practices for litter reduction along with the development of community programs to prevent the flow of litter to the Gulf of Mexico. Founded in 1967, Keep Texas Beautiful’s work is driven by its network of affiliate members, communities, volunteers, and supporters that span the state, and reach 17 million Texans annually. For more information and to find your closest affiliate, visit www.ktb.org. Follow us on Facebook, LinkedIn, and Instagram.
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