Keep Greater Milwaukee Beautiful is encouraging people of all ages to demonstrate that they love where they live by joining hands and volunteering for the 2012 Great American Cleanup.
The Great American Cleanup takes place across the country in urban areas and rural hamlets alike, reaching it’s apex during the spring season. Throughout the months of March, April and May, an anticipated 1,200 KAB affiliates and participating organizations will bring together an estimated 3.8 million volunteers to produce more vibrant, beautiful, cleaner and safer towns and cities.
In what continues to be the nation’s largest grassroots community improvement program, Keep Greater Milwaukee Beautiful’s volunteers will choose from among the following activities- beautify and green their neighborhoods by planting trees, flowers and community gardens, remove graffiti, reclaim community amenities like parks and playgrounds, clean up litter and debris from public lands, and host recycling and e-cycling drives. Moreover, the Great American Cleanup is a significant opportunity for local organizations to coordinate activities that encourage civic engagement and action.
The 2012 theme- #GreenStartsHere – is a call to action that civic leaders and volunteer groups can use to create more sustainable communities. Focusing their volunteer efforts on activities surrounding waste reduction, recycling, beautification and community greening, Keep Greater Milwaukee Beautiful will foster unity and strengthen community bonds throughout the Great American Cleanup. Milwaukee’s kick-off day will be held April 21, 2012 in Jackson Park (3500 Forest Home Ave).
In 2011, more than 59,000 volunteers took part in 440 Great American Cleanup events, collecting 1,086,790 pounds of litter and debris, cleaning 5,400 acres of parks, public lands and open spaces, and an additional 139 miles of rivers, lakes and shorelines.
How can you get involved? Visit www.kgmb.org for a list of local events or to become a site coordinator. You can also “like” Keep Greater Milwaukee Beautiful on Facebook or follow the organization on Twitter @KGMB.
Keep Greater Milwaukee Beautiful is an award winning, private, non-profit, 501(c)(3) organization. Established in 1983, it has been affiliated with Keep America Beautiful, Inc. since 1985. We are not a public or governmental agency. KGMB has a strong history of responsiveness, renewal and innovation. KGMB uses a unique combination of community improvement programs like the Great American Cleanup and environmental education programs to accomplish its goals.
