Keep Irving Beautiful Partners with Dallas College North Lake Campus Student Government Association Conducts Cleanup

 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.”

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.

Keep Irving Beautiful
Rick Hose
972-721-2175
http://www.cityofirving.org/284/Keep-Irving-Beautiful

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  • Environment

Keep Irving Beautiful March Tree Plantings Volunteers Add 28 Trees at Two Parks

 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.”

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.

Keep Irving Beautiful
Rick Hose
972-721-2175
http://www.cityofirving.org/284/Keep-Irving-Beautiful

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Keep Irving Beautiful Ends Year with Christmas Card Project Valentine’s Day Campaign Follows in 2023

 Keep Irving Beautiful (KIB) ended 2022 with their second annual Christmas Cards for Seniors project. This year they partnered with the Irving Public Library, and asked volunteers to write Christmas cards (homemade or purchased) to be delivered to local nursing home residents. Volunteers could drop off cards to the KIB office or any library location.

Volunteers came from all areas of the city, including schools, youth groups, businesses, nonprofit organizations, and individuals. Thanks to the volunteers’ generous donations, KIB staff had enough cards so that every resident at three different nursing home facilities could receive one.

Special thanks go to the following who helped make the holiday season merry and bright for our seniors: Mayor Rick Stopfer and wife Melanie; employee volunteers from Gartner and Mentor Texas; Irving Girl Scout Troops 6458, 1810 and 3473; Irving Elite cheerleaders; City of Irving after-school programs at Georgia Farrow, Senter, Lee, Northwest, Mustang, and Cimarron Recreation Centers, Lively Pointe Youth and the Adult Day Therapeutic Program; Helping Around Town (HAT) Ministry; Cardwell Career Preparatory School; and all the individuals who took the time to help bring smiles to the seniors’ faces.

KIB is continuing this spirit with a Valentine’s Day card campaign. Volunteers are asked to bring cards to the KIB office by Monday, Feb. 6, so they can be delivered by Valentine’s Day.

“The outpouring of support by community members for this project was outstanding,” said KIB Board member Kelly Horn. “We received so many cards, and the creativity and artistry shown by volunteers was beautiful and inspiring. The seniors loved getting them, and we encourage our volunteers to help with the Valentine’s Day card campaign also.”

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.

Keep Irving Beautiful
Rick Hose
972-721-2175
http://www.cityofirving.org/284/Keep-Irving-Beautiful

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Keep Irving Beautiful Partners with Nexstar for “Founder’s Day of Caring”

 Keep Irving Beautiful (KIB) recently partnered with the Irving-based Nexstar Media Group for their annual “Founder’s Day of Caring” on June 17. Nexstar founder and CEO Perry Sook started Founder’s Day to “enable employees to make a personal commitment to make the community a better place for everyone.” Employees in each of Nexstar’s 116 markets across the country are given paid time off to work with a local nonprofit or service agency.

A total of 79 employee volunteers, dressed in T-shirts denoting Nexstar’s 26th anniversary, gathered at T.W. Richardson Grove Park, 101 W. Interstate 635, for their morning of service. These volunteers gave 237 combined hours in in collecting litter along the tree lines close to the Elm Fork of the Trinity River along Campion Trail. When all bags were weighed and recorded, the group collected more than 110 pounds of trash and recyclables.

The event also included a food drive, with employees encouraged to bring nonperishable food items to the event. A total of 276 pounds of food were donated to Irving Cares food pantry, thanks to the generosity of the Nexstar team.

Media coverage of the event was provided by Nexstar owned CW-33 and Irving Community Television Network, who interviewed participants and took video footage that captured the spirit of the day.

“It was a pleasure for us to welcome Nexstar back to T.W. Richardson Grove for a second consecutive year,” said KIB Board member Karen Harmon. “They are an excellent group to work with and serve as an outstanding example of corporate community stewardship. Not only did they give of their time make the park more beautiful, but they also supported a local food pantry with their donations.”

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.

Keep Irving Beautiful

Rick Hose

972-721-2175

http://www.cityofirving.org/284/Keep-Irving-Beautiful

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  • Environment

Irving Receives Prestigious Governor’s Community Achievement Award Ten Winning Communities Receive State Environmental Award and Share $2 Million in Prize Money

 Keep Texas Beautiful (KTB) has recognized Irving as one of ten winners of the 2022 Governor’s Community Achievement Awards (GCAA) for outstanding community improvement. KTB, in partnership with the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT), has awarded the GCAA to Texas communities for more than 50 years. This year, the ten winning communities will share $2 million in landscape funding from TxDOT; Irving will receive $310,000 for a landscaping project.

The award is one of the most coveted annual environmental and community improvement honors in Texas. A community’s environmental program is judged by a group of diverse, multi-sector judges on achievements in seven environmental and community improvement areas: public awareness and outreach, environmental education, beautification and community improvement, litter prevention and cleanup, solid waste management, litter law and illegal dumping enforcement.

“Irving is very proud to receive this honor,” said Keep Irving Beautiful President Scott Wilson. “It represents the dedication of those in this community who work together toward a common goal of making Irving a better place to live, work and play. This is an award for the entire community, and very well deserved.”

The GCAA program has recognized outstanding communities since 1969, with TxDOT providing landscaping award funding since 1985. Irving will be honored during KTB’s Annual Conference, which will take place in Austin, TX from June 27 through June 29, with an awards dinner and presentation on the evening of June 29. Other winning communities include Salado, Richwood, Lucas, Woodway, Katy, Canyon Lake, Grapevine, Rowlett, and Allen.

To learn more about GCAA and this year’s winners, visit ktb.org/gcaa.

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 by deploying resources for community improvement projects, clean-ups, and youth engagement efforts across the state. Through our Keep Texas Recycling program, we provide assistance and education to support 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.

Founded in 1967, Keep Texas Beautiful’s work is driven by its network of nearly 300 affiliate member communities, volunteers, and supporters that reach 17 million Texans annually. For more information and to find your closest affiliate, visit www.krb.org.

About TxDOT

The Texas Department of Transportation is responsible for maintaining 80,000 miles of road and for supporting aviation, maritime, rail and public transportation across the state. Through collaboration and leadership, we deliver a safe, reliable, and integrated transportation system that enables the movement of people and goods. Find out more at TxDOT.gov. “Like” us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter.

About Irving

The City of Irving ranks #1 per capita among cities with at least 5 Fortune 500 corporate headquarters with a population greater than 100,000. Centrally located in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex, Irving continues to attract top talent from around the world.

Keep Irving Beautiful

Rick Hose

972-721-2175

http://www.cityofirving.org/284/Keep-Irving-Beautiful

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