Local citizens, corporations and civic groups recognized for volunteer efforts and environmental practices during 34th Annual Awards Dinner on January 9 at Gwinnett Center
Duluth, January 10 – On the evening of January 9, hundreds of eco-friendly citizens from all over Gwinnett County descended upon Gwinnett Center in Duluth for the 34th Annual Gwinnett Clean & Beautiful Awards Dinner. Gwinnett Clean & Beautiful is a volunteer-driven non-profit organization that is dedicated to promoting a healthier, safer and more livable Gwinnett. The Annual Awards Dinner honors the organization’s dedicated volunteers, as well as environmental stewards throughout the Gwinnett County community.
“Our annual dinner is a terrific way to recognize dedicated volunteers who act every day to keep Gwinnett clean and beautiful,” explained Connie Wiggins, Executive Director for Gwinnett Clean & Beautiful. “We launched these dinners in 1980 – when Gwinnett Clean & Beautiful was first realized – to strengthen ties with our individual volunteers and corporate partners, and recognize outstanding strides made by local environmental stewards. Every year, our board of directors and community partners put forth a slate of candidates who are reviewed by a team of judges to determine the recipients for that year’s prestigious Environmental Consciousness and Stewardship (ECoS) Awards. This year, our judges did an excellent job of selecting an honoree for each of the eleven ECoS Award categories. It’s so exciting to me that – after more than 30 years – our strength in numbers and power to create positive change for Gwinnett continue to grow. I can hardly wait to see what 2014 brings. “
As a result of the Awards Dinner, Gwinnett Clean & Beautiful wishes to once again congratulate the following 2013 ECoS honorees:
- Environmental Legacy Award: Jim Steele
- Volunteer of the Year: Debbie Mason
- Best Green Recycler: Supermercado Tapatio
- Best Green Partner: Waste Management
- Best Green Neighborhood: Beaver Hills Civic Association
- Best Green Industry: Rehrig Pacific
- Best Green Business: Allgood Pest Solutions
- Best Green Building: Annandale Transition House
- Best Green Government: Gwinnett County Sheriff’s Office
- Best Green Youth Group: Peachtree Ridge High School Green Team
- Best Green Educator: Gwinnett Clean & Beautiful Teacher Advisory Board Steering Committee
“All of our volunteers are cherished by everyone here at Gwinnett Clean & Beautiful,” said Wiggins. “We literally could not do what we do day in and day out without their hard work and dedication. During the ECoS Awards Dinner, we were particularly proud to shine the spotlight on Jim Steele – our 2013 Environmental Legacy Award recipient for his ongoing legacy of environmental stewardship throughout his remarkable career with Gwinnett County Schools, and on GCB Board Member Debbie Mason of the United Peachtree Corners Civic Association – our 2013 Volunteer of the Year for raising the bar for volunteerism.”
For Gwinnett citizens who wish to volunteer during 2014, upcoming events on the Gwinnett Clean & Beautiful calendar include Bring One for the Chipper Christmas Tree Recycling Event on January 25 at Bethesda Park in Lawrenceville, as well as the Great American Cleanup Challenge in Spring 2014 and America Recycles Day in Fall 2014. To learn more about these and other beautification projects throughout Gwinnett, interested parties are encouraged to visit the Volunteer page at www.GwinnettCB.org. Individual donations and corporate sponsorships are always welcome and appreciated, as well.
To nominate someone for consideration for a 2014 ECoS Award, citizens are invited to click on “Get Recognized” under the Volunteer tab on the Gwinnett Clean & Beautiful website. The Nominee must work to create a greener, cleaner more livable Gwinnett; be involved in continued environmental efforts rather than conduct one time projects; preserve or enhance the natural beauty of the environment; improve community and environmental practices; and/or improve awareness of environmental stewardship.
About Gwinnett Clean & Beautiful: Gwinnett Clean & Beautiful Services, Inc. (GCB) is an award-winning 501(c)3 charitable organization that boasts an expansive community-based network dedicated to finding long term solutions to environmental and quality of life issues through individual action. The organization is guided by a 55-member Citizens Advisory Board that represents all sectors of the Gwinnett County community. A nationally recognized leader in creating cleaner, greener and more livable communities throughout Gwinnett, GCB involves more than 100,000 volunteers annually to offer Litter & Graffiti Prevention Programs, Recycling/Waste Reduction Services, and Environmental Education Programs. For more information, please visit www.GwinnettCB.org.
Image Credits: Warren Cameron/Five Acre Studios
