Environmental Stewardship Award Winners Announced and 25 Years of Environmental Excellence Celebrated

There was much to celebrate during Keep Martin Beautiful’s Environmental Stewardship Awards when a lively crowd of nearly 200 guests gathered at Mariner Sands Country Club on April 23.  As part of the organization’s twenty-fifth anniversary, Keep Martin Beautiful recognized 31 winners including individuals, businesses, school clubs, government agencies and nonprofit groups for their efforts to beautify and revitalize communities, remove litter and marine debris, and provide impactful environmental education programs and green initiatives.  Serving as the organization’s key fundraiser, the event not only raised awareness about the diversity of people involved with Keep Martin Beautiful but also raised more than $30,000 in support of its mission to improve and enhance the quality of life in Martin County.

Long-time supporter, Martin County Commission Chairman Ed Ciampi, and Stacy Ranieri, president of the Firefly Group and Keep Martin Beautiful’s first executive director, entertained the crowd as the evening’s emcees. “It’s really heartwarming to still be involved with Keep Martin Beautiful after more than two decades and being a part of its growth and evolution.  Our long list of honorees who have been environmental stewards for 25 years or more is a testament to their passion and dedication to our natural environment and the special community we live in,” said Stacy Ranieri.

This year, Keep Martin Beautiful added many features to the event to bring greater awareness to its mission. Three, large 50-gallon recycling bins hand painted by local artists with ocean scenes, surfboards and tropical flowers were part of a silent auction. Guests bid on succulent centerpiece arrangements at their tables donated by Jenkins Landscape.  No lengthy program booklets were distributed this year. Instead, a single page program printed on wildflower seed paper was placed at each table and guests were encouraged to take them home and plant them. 

“I’ve been involved in the solid waste industry my entire career, and it’s been a pleasure to serve in a leadership role with Keep Martin Beautiful and to see the measureable impact Keep Martin Beautiful is having in our community, and how it is galvanizing and motivating thousands of people in Martin County, from all walks of life, to do their part to improve our quality of life,” said Craig Ahal, president of Keep Martin Beautiful.

Keep Martin Beautiful appreciates the support from sponsors and in-kind donors who are an important part of the success of the Environmental Stewardship Awards. They include: The City of Stuart; Environmental Compliance Equipment; The Firefly Group; FPL; Jenkins Landscape; The Kiplinger Foundation; Lively Orthodontics; Lucido & Associates; Martin County Board of County Commissioners and District 5 Commissioner Edward V. Ciampi; Martin County Solid Waste Division METCo - Marine Electronics of the Treasure Coast; n2 architecture + design; Sailor’s Return; Wallace Nissan; Waste Management; and Whiticar Boat Works.

To view a complete list of Environmental Stewardship Award nominees, as well as images from the event, visit KeepMartinBeautiful.org or facebook.com/KeepMartinBeautiful.

2019 Environmental Stewardship Award Winners:

•             Community Beautification Award - Prescription Shop of Stuart

•             Community Education Award - Martin County Ecosystem Restoration & Management Division Water Ambassador Program

•             Community Enrichment Award - House of Hope

•             Community Improvement Award - Sailfish Point

•             Creative Litter Prevention Award - TC Trash Art

•             Green Business Award - The Lotus Room

•             Keep Martin Beautiful President's Award - Girl Scouts of Southeast Florida

•             Keep Martin Beautiful Staff Choice Award - J.D. Parker Green Club

•             Neighborhood Revitalization Award - Sun Communities & The Town of Ocean Breeze

•             Raleigh "Riley" Jackson Award - Martin Correctional Institution

•             Technology & Innovation Award - FAU Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute

•             Trailblazer Award - JAR - The Zero Waste Shop

•             Youth Champion Award - Vivian Powell

•             Youth Engagement Award - Susan Shay, Palm City Palms

25-Year Milestone Environmental Stewardship Award Winners:

•             Leon Abood, Rivers Coalition

•             Craig Ahal

•             The City of Stuart

•             Mary Dawson

•             Jim Dragseth

•             Ecological Associates Inc.

•             Environmental Studies Center

•             The Jenkins Family, Jenkins Landscape

•             The Kiplinger Foundation

•             Thomas Lucido, Lucido & Associates

•             Martin County Solid Waste Division

•             Dan Martinelli, Treasure Coast Wildlife Center

•             Mark Perry, Florida Oceanographic Society

•             Stacy Ranieri

•             Rio Civic Club

•             Jeff Sabin, Waste Management

•             Tyler Treadway, Treasure Coast Newspapers

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 and the Adopt-A-Road and Adopt-A-Street programs. Find KMB on Facebook at facebook.com/KeepMartinBeautiful, follow KMB on Twitter at twitter.com/KMBmartin, visit KeepMartinBeautiful.org or call 772-781-1222.