PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Keep Georgia Beautiful unveiled a special recycling-themed license plate, new logo and identity/branding initiative yesterday in celebration of its 30th anniversary. The ceremony was held at the New World of Coca-Cola in Atlanta during Keep America Beautiful's Midyear Affiliates Forum.
More than 200 leaders of environmental and community improvement organizations from Keep America Beautiful's national network of affiliates joined in the celebration, which was hosted by Coca-Cola Recycling and its President & CEO John Burgess, a Keep America Beautiful board member, as well as Coca-Cola Company and Coca-Cola Enterprises.
"We would not be celebrating Keep Georgia Beautiful's 30th anniversary if Keep America Beautiful had not approached Governor George Busbee back in 1978 and suggested the establishment of the first Keep America Beautiful state affiliate," Phil Foil, deputy commissioner of the Georgia Department of Community Affairs, stated during the anniversary reception.
Keep Georgia Beautiful (KGB), housed in the Georgia Department of Community Affairs (DCA), is a public-private partnership, allowing it to benefit from the resources of citizens in government, the corporate world, and community organizations. These connections aid in its mission to build and sustain community environmental activities and behaviors resulting in a more beautiful Georgia. Keep Georgia Beautiful became the first Keep America Beautiful statewide affiliate as Georgia Clean & Beautiful in 1978. Keep America Beautiful has since expanded its "Clean Community System" into a national network of nearly 1,000 affiliates and participating organizations.
The Keep Georgia Beautiful Foundation, which supports the mission of KGB and promotes private sector financial funding for environmental education, unveiled a special license plate in support of DCA's Away-from-Home recycling initiative. The new license plate will raise awareness of recycling and support the Foundation's education programs.
"We need 1,000 pre-orders by the end of the year, so all of you Georgia folks help us out," said Lisa White, materials manager of Atlanta-based SP Recycling and treasurer of the Foundation. "Let's make it happen!"
The Recycle 4 Georgia License Plate order form can be downloaded from www.keepgeorgiabeautiful.org.
In addition, in celebration of KGB's 30th anniversary, a new logo was created by GOTCHA Design, an Atlanta-based "green" design firm. Since receiving Master Vendor Status with the State of Georgia, GOTCHA has successfully worked on brand development for a wide variety of clients including the City of Snellville, Ga., the City of Kennesaw, Ga., the Georgia Urban Forest Council (GUFC), and other businesses and nonprofits.
The Midyear Affiliates Forum, which took place from July 30-August 1 at the Marriott Downtown Atlanta, was keynoted by the Honorable Shirley Franklin, mayor of Atlanta, who shared her vision for the long-term economic viability of Atlanta as a "best in class" sustainable city. In addition, the 2008 conference focused on an array of topics including how to conduct a waste audit in the workplace, building and implementing Keep America Beautiful's Cigarette Litter Prevention Program, rejuvenating the passion of public service, and the benefits of green building.
