2022 Award Winners Announced during Celebration of Environmental Stewardship in Martin County
PALM CITY, Fla. – More than 40 nominees including youth groups, individuals, businesses, government agencies and nonprofit organizations, were honored at the 2022 Keep Martin Beautiful Environmental Stewardship Awards ceremony on April 28 at the beautiful oceanfront clubhouse at Sailfish Point Country Club. An enthusiastic and diverse crowd of more than 200 guests attended the event to recognize the nominees’ outstanding efforts in community beautification and revitalization, litter and marine debris removal, recycling and other environmental initiatives. Serving as the organization’s key fundraiser, the event raised more than $40,000 to support its mission to improve and enhance the quality of life in Martin County.
“Each year we continue to be impressed by the creative and impactful ways our nominees show their commitment to and stewardship of our natural environment,” said Craig Ahal, president of Keep Martin Beautiful. “Their projects and initiatives give us great hope for the future of Martin County and our planet.”
Guests enjoyed a lively cocktail hour and passed hors d’oeuvres while engaging in a friendly bidding competition for silent auction items focused on the environment, including an array of nature-themed paintings from local artists and a signed Guy Harvey print.
Fifteen awards were presented during the event. Highlights included the Youth Group Champion award, which was presented to the River Kidz. Created in 2011 by two 10-year-olds, today this group is made up of more than 500 students in Martin County. They participate in numerous environmental activities from creating a workbook that’s now in its fifth edition as part of Martin County School District’s curriculum to lobbying at the local and state level against potentially harmful issues that affect our waterways. The Community Enrichment Award was presented to the Jensen Beach Garden Club for the gardens they create and care for throughout Jensen Beach and Rio.
Two dozen sponsors provided financial and in-kind support, for which the organization is grateful: Presenting Sponsor, Sailfish Point Country Club; Champion Sponsors, Sunrise Grove Commerce Center and Three Lakes; Steward Sponsors, Martin County Board of County Commissioners District Five Edward V. Ciampi and Waste Management; Sustainer Sponsors, AHS Residential, FPL, Meritage Homes, and van Vonno Consulting; and Supporter Sponsors, Bonnie Landry & Associates, Camo Farms, Captec Engineering, Circular Recycling, City of Stuart, ColorLength, Ecological Associates, Fred Astaire Dance Studio, Goldasich Environmental, Illustrated Properties, Jenkins Landscape, Lucido & Associates, Manatee Pocket Yacht Sales, The Mil-Cor Group; The Pulte Group, Shearwater Marine, the Stull-Wise Family, Treasure Coast Urgent Care; Program Partners, Crown Trophies, The Firefly Group and Steven Martine Photography.
To view a complete list of Environmental Stewardship Award nominees, as well as images from the event, visit KeepMartinBeautiful.org or facebook.com/KeepMartinBeautiful.
2022 Environmental Stewardship Award Winners
- Community Cleanup Award - Live Love Local Hobe Sound Cleanup
- Community Enrichment Award - Jensen Beach Garden Club
- Community Impact Award - Paula Smith, Indiantown Garden
- Community Improvement Award - City of Stuart, Shepard Park
- Community Revitalization Award - Martin County Board of County Commissioners, Hobe Sound Scrub Preserve
- Conservation Steward Award - Loxa-Lucie Initiative
- Environmental Education Award - Florida Oceanographic Society, Ocean EcoCenter
- Innovation Award - House of Hope, Traveling Nutrition Garden
- President's Award - Students4H2O & Martin County School District
- Remarkable Recycler Award - Project LIFT
- Riley Jackson Award - Kathy Fitzpatrick
- Trailblazer Award - Maggy Hurchalla
- Youth Engagement Award - Jackie Brownie
- Youth Group Champion Award - River Kidz
- Youth Impact Award - The Pine School
About Keep Martin Beautiful
Keep Martin Beautiful (KMB) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit community organization founded in 1994 as an affiliate of Keep America Beautiful. Its mission is to preserve and enhance the quality of life in Martin County through litter prevention, the promotion of recycling, improvement of solid waste management practices, and beautification and community revitalization activities. KMB signature events and programs include the Environmental Stewardship Awards, the International Coastal Cleanup, the Great American Cleanup, the Adopt-A-Road and Adopt-A-Street programs, and other educational and outreach activities. Find KMB on Facebook at facebook.com/KeepMartinBeautiful, follow KMB on Twitter at twitter.com/KMBmartin, visit KeepMartinBeautiful.org or call 772-781-1222.