The First Baptist Church of Irving was the site of Keep Irving Beautiful’s annual “Mayor and KIB Proud Partner Awards” ceremony on Monday, August 10. After being greeted and signed in by volunteers Elouise McMillian, Sandy Franco, Vicki Haynes and Chuck Kirk, the 143 guests enjoyed a delicious appetizer buffet artfully prepared by Kristine Sanborn and her staff. Harpist Becky Scherschell provided music while T.J. Friedel served as photographer and Geoff Sirkel provided technical support.
KIB’s Volunteer Recognition Committee chair and hostess for the evening Margie Stipes started the ceremony by inviting members of Girl Scout Troop 2871 to present the colors and lead the pledge of allegiance. After Anthony Ball of First Baptist delivered the invocation and KIB Coordinator Rick Hose welcomed the guests, Mistress of Ceremonies Cathy Whiteman, along with Honorary Chair Mayor Beth Van Duyne, came on stage to present the awards to the following honorees:
- Youth Leadership Award (individual): Girl Scout Troop 2871
- Educator Award: Thomas W. Keefe, University of Dallas
- Faith Group Award: Calvary Church
- Business and Industry Award: Irving Convention and Visitors Bureau
- Business and Industry Award: Don Herring Mitsubishi
- Media Award: Natural Awakenings Magazine, Bernice Butler – Editor
- Civic Organization Award: Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD)
- Lifetime Achievement Award: Dorothy Henry
- Civil Servant Award: Sergeant Joseph Palomar, Irving Police Department
- Green Government Award: City of Irving Capital Improvement Program
- KIB Hometown Award: Nancy Medina
- KIB Hometown Award: Dennis Webb
In addition to the Proud Partner winners, recipients of the 2015 Keep Texas Beautiful and Keep America Beautiful Awards were also recognized. In the KAB National Awards, Lady Bird Johnson Middle School was honored with a First Place Award in the School Program Category. Keep Texas Beautiful Awards winners included Irving Community Television Network, which received Third Place in the Media Category, Arnold Martin, who won Second Place in the O.P. Schnabel Senior Citizen Category, and Margie Stipes, who placed second in the KIB Leadership Award Category.
Mrs. Stipes summed up the evening by saying, “This is an event that I look forward to every year, as does the entire KIB Board of Directors. It is a way to acknowledge and just say thank you to volunteers, partners and sponsors who are so important in making our organization successful. The people here tonight all care about Irving and making it a better place to live, work and play, and we are very honored to have them here as our guests for a very special evening.”
Keep Irving Beautiful is an award-winning, grassroots, non-profit leadership organization dedicated to educating community members about litter abatement, recycling, and beautification in order to help preserve the health and prosperity of our city. As an affiliate of Keep America Beautiful and Keep Texas Beautiful, the goals of Keep Irving Beautiful reach out to all aspects of Irving – government, business, civic and church organizations, schools, neighborhoods. All residents of Irving are a vital part of the program’s success.