Courtesy Xochitl Mora,

Organization receives Gold Star Affiliate Award and President’s Circle Award

(Mcallen, Texas)-Keep McAllen Beautiful (KMB) recently picked up a pair of awards that recognizes its efforts in keeping the community of McAllen, Texas beautiful and clean.  The local beautification non-profit organization was recognized as a winner of the 2018 Gold Star Affiliate by Keep Texas Beautiful, while Keep America Beautiful (KAB) presented KMB with its President’s Circle Award.

“I am so proud of Keep McAllen Beautiful for this well-deserved recognition from both the state and national organizations that govern and guide their affiliates,” said McAllen Mayor Jim Darling.  “Whether it is the Arbor Day celebration, Project Neighborhood Clean-Up, the Adopt-A-Park program or even their efforts to repaint homes for the elderly in our community, KMB works throughout the year to make sure our city is beautiful and clean.”

The Gold Star Affiliate Award was presented during the Keep Texas Beautiful Conference in June.  The award honors those who protect the Texas environment and support the organization’s mission to make Texas the cleanest, most beautiful state in the nation. To remain in good standing with KTB, community affiliates must annually submit a report, pay dues, attend at least one training session and participate in at least one KTB-endorsed activity. To achieve the Gold Star status, affiliates are required to meet additional benchmarks; they must share information on their mission and goals, answer questions about their educational programs and solid waste initiatives, participate in the Keep Texas Beautiful or Governor’s Community Achievement Awards programs, and provide a letter of support from their community.

The President’s Circle Award is presented through Keep America Beautiful and recognizes exemplary performance by certified affiliates in creating clean, green and beautiful communities. KMB qualified for the President’s Circle Award by meeting KAB’s standards of merit by conducting an annual Community Appearance Index, calculating the affiliate’s cost/benefit ratio and administering initiatives to end littering, improve recycling and beautify McAllen’s community.

Keep Texas Beautiful, the statewide grassroots environmental and community improvement organization, an affiliate of Keep America Beautiful, educates and engages Texans to take responsibility for improving their community environment. KTB and its more than 390 affiliates work with government, businesses, civic groups, and volunteers to ensure that every Texan has the opportunity to help make Texas the cleanest, most beautiful state in the nation.

Keep America Beautiful, the nation’s iconic community improvement nonprofit organization, inspires and educates people to take action every day to improve and beautify their community environment. KAB strives to end littering, improve recycling and to beautify America’s communities.  KAB believes everyone has a right to live in a clean, green, and beautiful community, and shares a responsibility to contribute to that vision.