G r eat A m er ica n Cle a nu p // 201 2 Re p ort
National Kickoff Event
National Day of Action A Day Committed to Volunteerism Across the Nation
los angEles, CA
events planned in 10 locations, including Oakland, Calif., Los Angeles, Cocoa, Fla., Indianapolis, Cobb County, Ga., Hampton Roads, Va., Houston, Shreveport, La., Philadelphia and Nashville. Dancing with the Stars’ Karina Smirnoff, the National Day of Action’s spokesperson, planted flowers in Los Angeles and encouraged her Twitter followers to participate in the Great American Cleanup. After the event, she tweeted, “Let me know what you’re doing or have done! Just think how we can all make a difference!”
Dancing with the Stars’ Karina Smirnoff planting flowers.
Early in 2012, Keep America Beautiful (KAB) announced a record-setting goal to recruit 4 million volunteers to participate in the annual Great American Cleanup (GAC), the nation’s largest annual community improvement program that brings people together to build and sustain vibrant communities. The Great American Cleanup, like spring itself, offers a wonderful opportunity to refresh our communities—by cleaning up, to be sure, but also by planting, rebuilding and renewing. This strength in numbers was on full display during KAB’s first-ever Great American Cleanup National Day of Action, which took place on Saturday, April 28. The initiative featured 10 “spotlight” events, which were expressly designed for the National Day of Action, as well as additional events throughout the country that enabled individuals to volunteer in their respective communities. Activities took place in nearly all 50 states, with special
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“Volunteering in your community is a great way to turn personal passion into lasting change,” said Matt McKenna, president & CEO, Keep America Beautiful. “Whether you joined a large event that happened near you, or just made a personal commitment to act on April 28, these small actions added up to spectacular results.”
“Whether you joined a large event that happened near you, or just made a personal commitment to act on April 28, these small actions added up to spectacular results.” Matt McKenna, President & CEO, Keep America Beautiful
Each of the KAB affiliates in the featured locations led large-scale cleanups and other coordinated events with significant community impact. Volunteers cleaned up litter and illegal dump sites, hosted recycling events, painted out graffiti, and planted thousands of flowers, plants and trees.