(IRVING, TEXAS)— Keep Irving Beautiful (KIB) recently partnered with the Flowserve Corporation for a cleanup project at Bird’s Fort Trail Park, part of Irving’s Campion Trail System. On Oct. 26, five employee volunteers met at the park for an afternoon of service, part of the company’s global community impact program “Flowserve Cares.”  The group worked as a team to collect litter along the tree line, collecting 16 pounds of trash and five pounds of recyclable materials, giving a combined ten hours of service.

Headquartered in Irving, Flowserve is a multi-national company with more than 300 locations worldwide. The Flowserve Cares program focuses on empowering associates to make meaningful impacts in the communities where they live and work. Employee volunteers in several locations across the country participated in similar service projects on the same day.

 “Irving’s corporate community is very active in volunteering and supporting local organizations, and we are fortunate to have companies like Flowserve based here in our city,” said KIB Board Member Rachel Moon. “We enjoyed welcoming the Flowserve Cares team to this beautiful park and appreciate their efforts in helping to keep litter from reaching the Elm Fork of the Trinity River.”

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.

KIB Partners with Local Non-profit Mission Tomorrow & Lowe’s for Beautification Project

100 Trees Planted at Cimarron Park

(IRVING, TEXAS)— On Oct. 12, Cimarron Park was filled with activity as 41 volunteers teamed with the City of Irving Urban Forestry team to plant 100 trees along the walking trails. The project is a partnership between Keep Irving Beautiful (KIB), Mission Tomorrow, Lowe’s, Volunteer Now and the City of Irving Parks Department.

Lowe’s employees and Mission Tomorrow members received instruction from the Urban Forestry Team in proper planting techniques and care of trees. They divided into teams and gave 123 hours of service in planting a variety of trees throughout the park.

Mission Tomorrow, a nonprofit founded by brothers Dhruv and Vansh Nanda, is dedicated to making a positive and measurable impact in the communities they serve. Through their “Trees for Life” initiative, Mission Tomorrow received a Lowe’s “100 Hometowns” grant for the purchase of 100 trees plus the required irrigation.

Lowe’s is celebrating the company’s 100^th anniversary in 2021 with its “100 Hometowns” initiative, with 100 community improvement grants awarded to different organizations across the country.

“Keep Irving Beautiful is proud to be a part of this project that involved so many different groups joining together in a common goal,” said KIB board member Rachel Moon. “As a volunteer-driven nonprofit organization, KIB depends on partnerships like these to help in our goal to build a stronger and more beautiful community.   We had a great day here at Cimarron Park, and we invite everyone to visit this location and see what a beautiful addition these trees are.”

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.

KIB Celebrates 30^th Annual Trash Bash

350 Volunteers Participate at T.W. Richardson Grove

(IRVING, TEXAS)— T.W. Richardson Grove Park was the site of the Keep Irving Beautiful (KIB) 30th Annual Trash Bash, the organization’s signature cleanup event. A total of 350 volunteers gathered at the park Sept. 25, with a focus of stopping litter from reaching the nearby Elm Fork of the Trinity River. The volunteers gave 1,400 hours of service in collecting 340 pounds of trash and 320 pounds of recyclables.

Mayor Rick Stopfer had officially proclaimed Sept. 25 as “Trash Bash Day in Irving.”  The event was also part of National Public Lands Day (NPLD), with thousands of volunteers engaged in similar projects across the country.

KIB partnered with Crisis Ministries of Irving to incorporate a canned food drive into the Trash Bash. Volunteers who brought a food donation received a special event T-shirt. After all the cans and boxes were collected and weighed, it amounted to 1,174.5 pounds of food, which will benefit those served by the food pantry in Irving.

Following the cleanup, volunteers from Blueprint Church prepared and served a hot dog lunch, with chips donated by Frito-Lay, while Chuck E. Cheese employee volunteers served pizza. As part of the NPLD program, the Kind Healthy Snack Company made a generous donation of Kind bars for KIB volunteers, which were distributed by Irving Fire Department trainees.

Attendees had the opportunity to visit a variety of informational tables. Barry Allen brought a collection of reptiles, a perennial crowd favorite. The City of Irving Water Utilities team invited attendees to “test their water IQ” by answering questions for prizes. Randy Mecca of DiscGames, whose focus is the therapeutic and recreational value of disc golf for wounded warriors and others with physical challenges, set up an area where volunteers could test their disc golf skills. And, the Girl Scouts of Northeast Texas offered STEM activities and information on scouting at their table.

A new addition to the Trash Bash this year was the planting of a tree to commemorate Mental Health Awareness. The 95-gallon bur oak was funded by a donation from Northrop Grumman and symbolizes the connection between nature and improved mental health. Members of the Urban Forestry Team instructed volunteers in the proper planting and care of trees.

Several city departments helped make Trash Bash a success, including Parks and Recreation, Solid Waste Services, Water Utilities and Communications. The Singley Academy Police Explorers directed traffic and kept the parking procedure safe and efficient. The Young Men’s Service League – Irving Hawks Chapter distributed supplies at the registration tables.

KIB Board President Scott Wilson provided safety instructions to the volunteers prior to the cleanup. “Since 1992, the Trash Bash has been an Irving tradition,” said Wilson. “While we offer the opportunity to make the community cleaner and greener by picking up litter, the Trash Bash is so much more than that. It’s people who share a common goal gathering together, exploring a variety of environmental subjects, and having fun in the process. On behalf of the KIB Board and staff, I want to thank everyone who came out to help make this event a success.”

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/284/Keep-Irving-Beautiful or call (972) 721-2175.

KIB to Celebrate 30^th Annual Trash Bash

Volunteers Invited to Register Online or Participate Remotely

(IRVING, TEXAS)—  Keep Irving Beautiful (KIB) will celebrate the 30^th annual Trash Bash on Saturday, Sept 25 at T.W. Richardson Grove Park, 333 E. Interstate Highway 635, from 9 a.m. to noon.   Volunteers will focus their efforts on the Northern Campion Trails and surrounding area, with the goal of keeping litter from reaching the Elm Fork of the Trinity River. As in previous years, the cleanup will be held in conjunction with National Public Lands Day, traditionally the nation’s largest single-day volunteer event, and will also be part of Keep Texas Beautiful’s “Fall Sweep.”

KIB will provide litter pickers, gloves, trash and recycle bags.  In addition to the cleanup, volunteers will have the opportunity to visit a variety of educational and entertaining exhibits to learn about reptiles and water conservation or participate in STEM activities.  Lunch will be provided, with a vegetarian option, after the cleanup.

Volunteers are encouraged to bring canned or other non-perishable food items to benefit Crisis Ministries of Irving Food Pantry in downtown Irving. Those who donate will receive a special 30^th Anniversary event T-shirt, while supplies last.

KIB is also offering a “virtual” option for volunteers, similar to last year’s event.  Volunteers will conduct their own cleanups at a safe Irving location of their choice.  They will report to KIB by posting pictures and data to their social media pages using the hashtag #IrvingTrashBash30.

“We encourage residents of Irving to help celebrate our 30^th annual Trash Bash, either with the group at T.W. Richardson Grove, or at their own smaller cleanups” said KIB President Scott Wilson. “This event is so much more than a cleanup, and to hold it on National Public Lands Day and in conjunction with the statewide Fall Sweep makes our volunteers feel like part of a much bigger picture.  We hope to see you there, or if you are participating virtually, we look forward to seeing your photos on social media.”

Please register online by Sept. 17. For more information, visit cityofirving.org/KIB or call KIB at (972) 721-2175.

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.

(IRVING, TEXAS)— The annual Mayor and Keep Irving Beautiful (KIB) Awards ceremony was held on August 2 in the First Baptist Church of Irving Fellowship Hall.  Guests were treated to the beautiful sound of harp music as they entered the room, provided by the talented Becky Scherschell.  Volunteers Elouise McMillian, Chandler Ude, Nancy Medina and Lisa Ross greeted and signed in the attendees.  Spirit Grille catered the meal, which guests enjoyed while seated at tables with centerpieces designed and created by Nancy Ard, using all recyclable materials.  T.J. Friedel provided photography for the event.

Boy Scout Troop 508 began the ceremony by presenting the flag and leading the group in the Pledge of Allegiance.  Youth Pastor Brian Bunch of CHRIST Church delivered the invocation, after which KIB Treasurer Jim Scrivner provided a brief overview of activities throughout the year and recognized the City of Irving’s Urban Forestry Team for their first place Keep Texas Beautiful State Award in the Government category. KIB was acknowledged for achieving the President’s Circle Award from Keep America Beautiful, and the Gold Star and Sustained Excellence Awards from Keep Texas Beautiful.

Cathy Whiteman, returning as emcee for the tenth consecutive year, was joined on stage by Honorary Chair Mayor Rick Stopfer for the presentation of the following awards:

Youth Leadership Award:  MacArthur High School Student Council

Educator Award:  Victor Galanis, Jack Singley Academy

Educator Award:  James Duran, Dallas College – North Lake Campus

Faith Group Award:  Hackberry Creek Church

Business and Industry Award:  La Cima Club

Civic Organization:  Dallas Hispanic Chamber of Commerce

Nonprofit Organization:  Brighter Tomorrows

Government Award: City of Irving Department of Arts and Culture

Civil Servant Award: Assistant Police Chief Brian Redburn

KIB Hometown Award: Pat Davenport

KIB Hometown Award:  Phil Riddle 

“After holding last year’s event virtually, it was great to be able to gather in person this year,” said KIB Board President Scott Wilson. “We are so grateful for our volunteers and friends of KIB. This is always one of our favorite events because we have the opportunity to thank them for all they do.”

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.