LAWRENCEVILLE, Ga. - Dec. 20, 2019 - On the cusp of its 40th anniversary of having a positive impact on the beautification and sustainability of Gwinnett County while educating and motivating its citizens to act, Gwinnett Clean & Beautiful (GC&B) received a 2019/2020 Governor's Circle Award. The award, presented by the Keep Georgia Beautiful Foundation during its 2019 Awards Luncheon in Atlanta, recognizes exemplary performance in litter reduction, waste minimization, and community greening. The Keep Georgia Beautiful Foundation will also honor recipients at their annual legislative day at the Georgia Capitol on January 30, 2020 – at which time Governor Brian Kemp will recognize all recipients of the Governor's Circle Award.
To qualify for the Governor's Circle Award, affiliates must be in good standing with Keep America Beautiful, the national nonprofit that oversees state and local programming. Requirements include conducting an annual litter index, calculating the affiliate's cost/benefit ratio, and engaging volunteers in taking greater responsibility for their community spaces. Additionally, the affiliate must be an active member of the Georgia network.
"We believe that everyone deserves to live in a clean, green, and beautiful environment," said Natalie Johnston-Russell, executive director of the Keep Georgia Beautiful Foundation. "The recipients of this award have proven themselves to be dedicated to that cause, and we're thankful for the work they do every day to move our mission forward across Georgia."
Gwinnett Clean & Beautiful (http://www.gwinnettcb.org/) Executive Director Schelly Marlatt and Program Coordinator Kim Sullivan attended the luncheon to accept the award. "Each year, this event serves to inspire us," said Marlatt. "To look around the room and see other Keep America Beautiful and Keep Georgia Beautiful affiliates connecting, hear about the things for which they're being recognized or upcoming initiatives they're excited about, it's a reminder that Gwinnett Clean & Beautiful is part of a powerful network. We often get busy and maintain our own lane focused on our own individual communities, but we're part of a much bigger picture that involves all of Georgia and – through Keep America Beautiful – the entire country. I can't think of a more fitting title for this award than the Governor's CIRCLE Award. We are all interconnected, all working towards the same goal – whether on the shores of the Atlantic with Keep Golden Isles Beautiful, on the banks of the Chattahoochee with Keep Roswell Beautiful, or on the streets of downtown Atlanta with the Keep Atlanta Beautiful Commission. We are honored to receive the Governor's Circle Award again this year and we are even more honored to continue to serve our community and state."
