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Keep Irving Beautiful Partners with Pacific Dental Services

Group Conducts Cleanup at T.W. Richardson Grove Park

 

(IRVING, TEXAS)— Keep Irving Beautiful (KIB) recently partnered with Pacific Dental Services for a cleanup at T.W. Richardson Grove Park,  333 E. I-635, on August 19.  They gathered at the park early Saturday morning for their day of service.  After receiving safety instructions, they set out in small groups, working together to help keep litter from reaching the nearby Elm Fork of the Trinity River.

 

A total of 22 adults and 3 youths combined for 75 volunteer hours.  By focusing their efforts on the tree lines near the river, they group collected 101 pounds of trash and 17 pounds of recyclable materials.

 

This event was part of Pacific Dental Services’ 13th annual “Smile Generation Serve Day,” an initiative to provide donated dental care to underserved patients, as well as engage their offices across the country in local service projects.

 

“It is always a pleasure for KIB to welcome new partners for service projects,” said KIB Board member Kelly Horn. “The Irving office of Pacific Dental Services reached out to KIB and we were happy to provide an opportunity for their employees to volunteer and give back to the community.  They did an outstanding job, and we hope to work with them again.”

 

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Keep Irving Beautiful is a nonprofit organization dedicated to educating the community about litter abatement, recycling, and beautification to help preserve the health and promote the social and economic prosperity of the city. As an award-winning affiliate of Keep America Beautiful and Keep Texas Beautiful, Keep Irving Beautiful reaches out to all sectors of the community, including government, businesses, churches, as well as cultural, educational, neighborhood and civic organizations. For more information on volunteering with KIB or making an activity a “green event,” visit CityofIrving.org/KIB or call (972) 721-2175.

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KEEP IRVING BEAUTIFUL PRESENTS ANNUAL AWARDS

Local Community Members Honored at Ceremony

 

(IRVING, TEXAS)— The annual Mayor and Keep Irving Beautiful (KIB) Awards ceremony was held on August 7 at the Jack D. Huffman Community Building.   Guests were first greeted and signed in by Elouise McMillian and Karen Harmon, and  then had the opportunity to tour the Irving Archives and Museum prior to the ceremony.  Randy Lemerand of Spirit Grille catered the appetizer buffet, which guests enjoyed at tables featuring centerpieces created by Nancy Ard.  T.J. Friedel provided photography for the event, and Irving Community Television Network was present to interview guests for a future story on the event. 

KIB Treasurer Jim Scrivner began the ceremony by providing a brief overview of KIB’s accomplishments, including the President’s Circle Award and two National Innovations Awards from Keep America Beautiful, and the Gold Star and Sustained Excellence from Keep Texas Beautiful.  He gave special recognition to Sammy Romero, who earlier in the year had received the highest honor from Keep America Beautiful – the Lady Bird Johnson Award as outstanding volunteer in the nation. He then introduced Cathy Whiteman, returning as emcee for the twelfth consecutive year, and Honorary Chair Mayor Rick Stopfer for the presentation of the following awards:

Youth Leadership: Nimitz High School DECA

Educator:  Lori Delacruz Lewis, Dallas College - North Lake

Business and Industry:  Federal Home Loan Bank of Dallas

Business and Industry:  Lamberti’s Ristorante

Media:  94.9 KLTY FM Radio

Faith Group:  Nueva Vida Internacional Church

Nonprofit Organization:  Valley Ranch Green CLub

Government:  City of Irving Health Inspectors

Civil Servant: Officer Stephanie Straw, Irving Police Department

KIB Hometown:  Fatema Biviji

Margie Stipes Lifetime Achievement:  Kay Branch 

“Everyone at Keep Irving Beautiful looks forward to this event,” said KIB Board President Scott Wilson. “We know that we could not accomplish all the things we do without the efforts of those who support and volunteer with the organization.  It’s a pleasure to make a special effort to pay tribute to these award winners, and to everyone who makes a positive impact in the Irving community each year.”

Keep Irving Beautiful is a nonprofit organization dedicated to educating the community about litter abatement, recycling, and beautification to help preserve the health and promote the social and economic prosperity of the city. As an award-winning affiliate of Keep America Beautiful and Keep Texas Beautiful, KIB reaches out to all sectors of the community, including government, businesses, churches, as well as cultural, educational, neighborhood and civic organizations. For more information on volunteering with KIB or making an activity a “green event,” visit CityofIrving.org/284/Keep-Irving-Beautiful or call (972) 721-2175.

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Keep Irving Beautiful Partners with Dallas College North Lake Campus

Student Government Association Conducts Cleanup

 

(IRVING, TEXAS)— Keep Irving Beautiful (KIB) recently partnered with the Student Government Association (SGA) of Dallas College North Lake Campus for a cleanup at the Rock Island Road Bike and Pedestrian Trail on July 13.  They met at the KIB office, directly across the street from the trail. After receiving supplies and safety instructions, the volunteers set out for the trail on a beautiful summer morning.

 

The group worked together, concentrating their efforts on the tree lines near the trail.  Together they completed 12 hours of service and collected 35 pounds of trash and recyclable materials, helping to make this popular trail cleaner and greener.

 

“The Dallas College North Lake Campus students and staff have a long history of partnering with Keep Irving Beautiful,” said KIB Board member Dr. Vu, the SGA faculty sponsor. “Groups like Service Learning, Phi Theta Kappa and the Green Club, as well as the SGA, have contributed many hours of service in KIB projects.  It was a pleasure to join the students today for this cleanup, and we hope to do more projects in the future.”

 

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Keep Irving Beautiful is a nonprofit organization dedicated to educating the community about litter abatement, recycling, and beautification to help preserve the health and promote the social and economic prosperity of the city. As an award-winning affiliate of Keep America Beautiful and Keep Texas Beautiful, Keep Irving Beautiful reaches out to all sectors of the community, including government, businesses, churches, as well as cultural, educational, neighborhood and civic organizations. For more information on volunteering with KIB or making an activity a “green event,” visit CityofIrving.org/KIB or call (972) 721-2175.

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Keep Irving Beautiful Partners with Verizon

Group Conducts Cleanup at T.W. Richardson Grove Park

 

(IRVING, TEXAS)— Keep Irving Beautiful (KIB) recently partnered with employee volunteers from Verizon for a cleanup at T.W. Richardson Grove Park, 333 E. Interstate Highway 635, on May 2.  It was a beautiful spring morning for the group to take time away from the office to join KIB for this service project.  After receiving supplies and safety instructions, the 31 volunteers set out in groups of two or more to collect litter. 

 

At KIB cleanups,  keeping litter from reaching the Elm Fork of the Trinity River is always a primary focus.  The Verizon group did just that as they concentrated their efforts on the tree lines along the Campion Trail, as well as the areas beneath the interstate.  The group completed 62 volunteer hours, while collecting 174.5 pounds of trash and 62 pounds of recyclable materials.

 

“Verizon and KIB have a long history of working together in projects like this,” said KIB Board member Margie Stipes. “Verizon has very active “Green Teams” here in Irving and at their locations across the world which engage thousands of employees to give back to their local communities.  It’s always a pleasure to welcome Verizon employees because they really care about the projects and give their best effort.”

 

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Keep Irving Beautiful is a nonprofit organization dedicated to educating the community about litter abatement, recycling, and beautification to help preserve the health and promote the social and economic prosperity of the city. As an award-winning affiliate of Keep America Beautiful and Keep Texas Beautiful, Keep Irving Beautiful reaches out to all sectors of the community, including government, businesses, churches, as well as cultural, educational, neighborhood and civic organizations. For more information on volunteering with KIB or making an activity a “green event,” visit CityofIrving.org/KIB or call (972) 721-2175.

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Keep Irving Beautiful Recognized as Gold Star Affiliate by Keep Texas Beautiful

One of 82 Texas Communities Honored for Exceptional Community Improvement Efforts

 

- Keep Texas Beautiful (KTB), a statewide grassroots environmental and community improvement non-profit organization, was recently named Keep Irving Beautiful (KIB) a Gold Star Affiliate. Gold Star is the highest 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,” says 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.  Keep Irving Beautiful successfully implemented programs to clean up litter, reduce and recycle waste, educate local citizens, and their work beautifies and enhances the local community.

 

As the local affiliate of Keep Texas Beautiful, KIB hosted activities which engaged 8,078 volunteers who contributed 10.866 hours of service.  They collected 24,726 pounds of trash and recyclables in cleanups, enhanced the visual appeal of several parks with paint projects, and helped to plant 29 trees in public spaces.

 

KIB Board President Scott Wilson credited volunteers for the success of the organization.  “KIB accomplishes so much in the Irving community, and we could not do that without the dedication of our volunteers,” said Wilson.  “We are proud to be a Keep Texas Beautiful affiliate, and it is important to us to strive for the highest levels of achievement.  We thank KTB for this honor.”

 

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.

 

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About Keep Irving Beautiful

 

Keep Irving Beautiful is a nonprofit organization dedicated to educating the community about litter abatement, recycling, and beautification to help preserve the health and promote the social and economic prosperity of the city. As an award-winning affiliate of Keep America Beautiful and Keep Texas Beautiful, Keep Irving Beautiful reaches out to all sectors of the community, including government, businesses, churches, as well as cultural, educational, neighborhood and civic organizations. For more information on volunteering with KIB or making an activity a “green event,” visit CityofIrving.org/KIB or call (972) 721-2175.

 

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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KEEP IRVING BEAUTIFUL SEEKS NOMINATIONS FOR ANNUAL AWARDS

“Mayor and KIB Awards” Honor Irving’s Difference Makers

 

(IRVING, TEXAS) - Keep Irving Beautiful is asking for nominations to be submitted for the 2023 “Mayor and KIB Annual Awards.”  These awards honor local individuals, organizations and businesses that have gone above and beyond in making significant contributions towards making Irving a better place to live, work, play or visit.  KIB will recognize the winners at a reception on Monday, August 7.  Categories include:

  • Youth Leadership
  • Educator
  • Faith Group
  • Civic/Nonprofit Organization
  • Business and Industry
  • Media
  • Margie Stipes Lifetime Achievement
  • Civil Servant
  • Government
  • KIB Hometown

 

Detailed descriptions of each award, a list of previous year’s winners, and the current nomination form can be found by going to www.keepirvingbeautiful.org. Nominations can be submitted online, or can be downloaded, printed, and mailed to the KIB office at: 

Keep Irving Beautiful, 3000 Rock Island Road, Irving, TX 75060.

For more information, please contact KIB at 972-721-2175, or email info@rockthegreen.org.

 

Nominations must be received by Friday, June 9, 2023.

 

Keep Irving Beautiful is a nonprofit organization dedicated to educating our community about litter abatement, recycling, and beautification to help preserve the health and promote the social and economic prosperity of our city. As an award-winning affiliate of Keep America Beautiful and Keep Texas Beautiful, Keep Irving Beautiful reaches out to all sectors of our city including government, business, church, cultural, educational, neighborhood and civic organizations.  If you are interested in volunteering with KIB, or making your activity a “green event,” please go to Keep Irving Beautiful, or call (972) 721-2175.

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Keep Irving Beautiful Partners with Dallas Everest Lions Club

Group Donated and Planted Trees at City’s Tree Farm

 

(IRVING, TEXAS)— The City of Irving’s Tree Farm, located at Nursery and Hunter Ferrell Roads, has ten new trees, thanks to the efforts of the Dallas Everest Lions Club, Keep Irving Beautiful and the Parks and Recreation Department’s Urban Forestry Team.  Volunteers from the Dallas Everest Lions Club met at the tree farm on April 11 for a morning of service on a sunny spring day.  After receiving instructions from the Urban Forestry team, the Lions were ready to get to work and plant the trees.

 

The trees were a mix of red, live and bur oaks, which were purchased using funds donated by the Lions.  In the past two years, this group funded similar projects at Cimarron Park, 201 Red River Trail, and Running Bear Park, 2601 S. Story Road.

 

Irving Community Television Network (ICTN) was on hand to interview volunteers and staff about their experience, and to capture the activities of the day.

 

“The Dallas Everest Lions Club’s dedication to community service is a great example for others to follow,”

said KIB Board Vice President Karen Harmon. “Not only did the club members help to plant the trees, but they also donated the funds to purchase them. These 10 beautiful oak trees will be cared for here at the farm until they are ready to be transplanted to parks or other public spaces.”

 

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Keep Irving Beautiful is a nonprofit organization dedicated to educating the community about litter abatement, recycling, and beautification to help preserve the health and promote the social and economic prosperity of the city. As an award-winning affiliate of Keep America Beautiful and Keep Texas Beautiful, Keep Irving Beautiful reaches out to all sectors of the community, including government, businesses, churches, as well as cultural, educational, neighborhood and civic organizations. For more information on volunteering with KIB or making an activity a “green event,” visit CityofIrving.org/KIB or call (972) 721-2175.

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Keep Irving Beautiful Hosts “Don’t Mess with Texas Trash-Off”

 

(IRVING, TEXAS)—The “Don’t Mess with Texas Trash-Off” is the state’s signature event of the “Great American Cleanup,” taking place in communities all across Texas.  Keep Irving Beautiful (KIB) hosted its event on April 1 at Trinity View Park, where volunteers shared a common goal of stopping litter from reaching the nearby Elm Fork of the Trinity River.  After signing in, receiving supplies from the Irving Hawks Chapter of the Young Men’s Service League and getting safety instructions, groups of volunteers spread out across the park, along creek beds, tree lines and wooded areas, collecting litter that had been washed into this low-lying area. 

 

A total of 215 volunteers (161 adults and 54 youth) combined for 645 hours of volunteer service and collected 1,200 pounds of trash and 1,120 pounds of recyclables.

 

Following the cleanup, Federal Home Loan Bank of Dallas sponsored the lunch of beef and veggie hot dogs, which also included a variety of chips donated by longtime sponsor Frito-Lay.  Members of the Nueva Vida Church cooked and served the lunch. City departments that were instrumental in the success of this event included Parks and Recreation, who reserved the park and provided logistic guidance, Solid Waste Services, who provided roll-off containers and weighed the materials collected, and Communications, who provided a crew to cover the event for Irving Community Television Network (ICTN).   

 

Volunteers from Crisis Ministries of Irving were present to accept canned food donations from those in attendance, collecting a total of 315 pounds for their food pantry in downtown Irving. Those who donated food items received a KIB T-shirt while supplies lasted.  KIB has included a canned food drive with their two big community cleanup events for the past nine years.

 

KIB also offered a virtual “#IrvingTrashOff2023” where volunteers chose their own locations around the city and reported via social media.  They were asked to post pictures of their cleanups, and include the number of volunteers, hours and bags of trash recyclables collected along with the hashtag #IrvingTrashOff2023.  

 

KIB Board member and Dallas College – North Lake professor Dr. Roy Vu attended the event, as did many of his students. “The Trash-Off is a great community event that brings people of all ages and walks of life together,” said Vu. “Our volunteers are joined by thousands of others in Texas who are participating in their own local Trash-Offs.  This is also part of Keep America Beautiful’s Great American Cleanup program, which will engage millions of volunteers throughout the country from March through May.”

 

Keep Irving Beautiful is a nonprofit organization dedicated to educating our community about litter abatement, recycling, and beautification to help preserve the health and promote the social and economic prosperity of our city. As an award-winning affiliate of Keep America Beautiful and Keep Texas Beautiful, Keep Irving Beautiful reaches out to all sectors of our city including government, business, church, cultural, educational, neighborhood and civic organizations.  If you are interested in volunteering with KIB, or making your activity a “green event,” please go to Keep Irving Beautiful, or call (972) 721-2175.

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(IRVING, TEXAS)— Keep Irving Beautiful (KIB) recently partnered with two groups to help make two city parks more green and beautiful.  Irving Girl Scout Troops 1810 and 6458 didn’t sleep in on Monday, March 13, their first day of Spring Break, but instead came to Towne Lake Park, 800 Esters Road, to plant eight trees along the walking trail.  On March 22, ten employee volunteers from Abbott Laboratories spent the morning at Thomas Jefferson Park, 1200 Hidden Ridge, planting 20 trees.

 

At both events, the City of Irving’s Urban Forestry Team walked the volunteers through all the steps in proper tree planting.  Volunteers learned about the types of trees they were planting, how to measure the ideal depth, and tips for maintenance throughout the life of the trees.

 

The combined results of the two events were 22 volunteers who gave 54 hours of service in planting a total of 28 trees.  The trees were a mix of bur oak, red oak, cedar elm and desert willow, which will bring more beauty and many other benefits to these two parks. The purchase of the trees was made possible by corporate donations from Northrop Grumman and Mentor Texas.

 

“Events like these two tree plantings are great examples of what KIB does and how we bring people together in a common goal,” said KIB Board member Jim Scrivner. “KIB’s youth outreach program includes organizations like the Girl Scouts, who have been active volunteers for many years. We also have a strong corporate outreach program, and in this case, two companies provided the funding and a third company provided the volunteers to plant the trees.  We appreciate all those who make a positive difference, and everyone involved in the two projects did an outstanding job.”

 

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Keep Irving Beautiful is a nonprofit organization dedicated to educating the community about litter abatement, recycling, and beautification to help preserve the health and promote the social and economic prosperity of the city. As an award-winning affiliate of Keep America Beautiful and Keep Texas Beautiful, Keep Irving Beautiful reaches out to all sectors of the community, including government, businesses, churches, as well as cultural, educational, neighborhood and civic organizations. For more information on volunteering with KIB or making an activity a “green event,” visit CityofIrving.org/KIB or call (972) 721-2175.

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(IRVING, TEXAS)— Keep Irving Beautiful (KIB) recently partnered with two groups to help make two city parks more green and beautiful.  Irving Girl Scout Troops 1810 and 6458 didn’t sleep in on Monday, March 13, their first day of Spring Break, but instead came to Towne Lake Park, 800 Esters Road, to plant eight trees along the walking trail.  On March 22, ten employee volunteers from Abbott Laboratories spent the morning at Thomas Jefferson Park, 1200 Hidden Ridge, planting 20 trees.

 

At both events, the City of Irving’s Urban Forestry Team walked the volunteers through all the steps in proper tree planting.  Volunteers learned about the types of trees they were planting, how to measure the ideal depth, and tips for maintenance throughout the life of the trees.

 

The combined results of the two events were 22 volunteers who gave 54 hours of service in planting a total of 28 trees.  The trees were a mix of bur oak, red oak, cedar elm and desert willow, which will bring more beauty and many other benefits to these two parks. The purchase of the trees was made possible by corporate donations from Northrop Grumman and Mentor Texas.

 

“Events like these two tree plantings are great examples of what KIB does and how we bring people together in a common goal,” said KIB Board member Jim Scrivner. “KIB’s youth outreach program includes organizations like the Girl Scouts, who have been active volunteers for many years. We also have a strong corporate outreach program, and in this case, two companies provided the funding and a third company provided the volunteers to plant the trees.  We appreciate all those who make a positive difference, and everyone involved in the two projects did an outstanding job.”

 

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Keep Irving Beautiful is a nonprofit organization dedicated to educating the community about litter abatement, recycling, and beautification to help preserve the health and promote the social and economic prosperity of the city. As an award-winning affiliate of Keep America Beautiful and Keep Texas Beautiful, Keep Irving Beautiful reaches out to all sectors of the community, including government, businesses, churches, as well as cultural, educational, neighborhood and civic organizations. For more information on volunteering with KIB or making an activity a “green event,” visit CityofIrving.org/KIB or call (972) 721-2175.