Keep America Beautiful and the Lowe’s Charitable and Educational Foundation announced a major $1 million gift in support of the national nonprofit’s mission to build and sustain vibrant communities.

This is Lowe’s second $1 million contribution to Keep America Beautiful, resulting in sustainable actions and outcomes that benefit communities across the country.

The grant will support more than 100 community improvement initiatives in 2013, ranging from creating community gardens and augmenting recycling programs to planting trees and leading disaster restoration projects.

“Several communities in Pennsylvania benefited from the Lowe’s Community Improvement Grant Program in 2012” explained Shannon Reiter, President of Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful.  “The Hill District Consensus Group for Clean Green Hill in Pittsburgh and the Intermunicipal Relations Committee in Altoona both received $5,000 for their community greening efforts. We encourage organizations that are working to build vibrant communities across Pennsylvania to consider applying for a Keep America Beautiful Lowe’s Community Improvement Grant this spring.”

The national nonprofit will directly solicit its affiliates, like Keep PA Beautiful, for grant applications beginning in February.

“The cumulative impact of this Lowe’s Community Improvement Grant Program continues to be remarkable. Our intent is to ensure that all selected projects help to create vibrant communities that are socially connected, environmentally healthy and economically sound,” said Matt McKenna, president and chief executive officer of Keep America Beautiful. “Together with our strong national network of affiliates and partners, we will continue to work hand-in-hand with their local Lowe’s Heroes and Lowe’s store managers to make a real difference in communities across the country.”

The grant encourages KAB affiliates to engage with their local Lowe’s Heroes program, a company-wide volunteer initiative that offers Lowe’s employees the opportunity to work on projects in their own community, thereby furthering KAB’s mission of making communities cleaner, greener and safer places to live, work and play.

“Last year was our first year working with Keep America Beautiful and through the Lowe’s Community Improvement Grant Program we’ve learned a lot about our shared passion for making communities clean, green and safe,” said Marshall Croom, chairman of the Lowe’s Charitable and Educational Foundation. “The projects completed in 2012 by our Lowe’s Heroes and Keep America Beautiful volunteers will have a lasting impact on communities across the country for years to come and we can’t wait to roll up our sleeves and get to work with KAB in 2013.”

For more information on cleanup, prevention and keep it clean programs to help your community, visit the Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful website.

2/11/2013