Keep PA Beautiful is encouraging the public to vote for local Cox Conserves Hero Nicole Chandler-Harper to help win $50,000.

Nicole Chandler-Harper, a Philadelphia native, was chosen as one of four Cox Conserves Heroes regional award winners for her extensive clean up and beautification work in her Overbrook neighborhood in Philadelphia.

As one of the regional award winners, she won a $10,000 grant to support her local Royal Gardens KPB local  affiliate.

She also chose Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful as her nonprofit of choice to receive the $50,000 award.  

If received, Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful will develop a grant program to create and maintain green spaces and support park improvements including tree plantings, playground equipment and water features.

Cox Conserves Heroes is an awards program created by Cox Enterprises and The Trust for Public Land. The program honors environmental volunteers who create, preserve or enhance shared outdoor spaces in their local communities.

The goal is to inspire and encourage individuals who are making a positive impact on the planet through volunteerism and honor them with financial support to their nonprofit of choice.

Click Here to vote for Nicole Chandler-Harper by October 15.

Nicole  Chandler-Harper

Fifteen years ago, Chandler-Harper embarked on a journey to transform the overgrown lot that was prone to littering, across the street from her home. Cleaning up and beautifying the 117-acre parcel of Morris Park became her crusade. 

“I really just wanted some beautification across from my home,” recalls Chandler-Harper.

It wasn’t long before Chandler-Harper adopted a section of Morris Park through the Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful Adoption Program and named it Royal Gardens.

Today, Royal Gardens is a lush, meditative retreat within the larger park, filled with flowerbeds, various types of mature trees and a vegetable garden. It is maintained by the Royal Gardens Association led by Chandler-Harper.

Through Chandler-Harper and the Park Friends Group, Royal Gardens has made impressive strides.

Along with the obvious aesthetic improvements to the area, there has been significant improvements to the local watershed as a result of their attention to and investment in stormwater management, which benefits the larger community and surrounding ecosystems.

“Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful is grateful to Nicole for her partnership and local leadership and congratulates her for receiving this prestigious recognition, said Shannon Reiter, president of Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful. “I commend Nicole for her efforts, many achievements and countless contributions. She is an example of how one person can truly make a difference in the community. We are so excited and humbled to be a part of her story,   Please vote for Nicole and support our work in neighborhood parks across Pennsylvania.”

Each regional winner will be profiled on the Cox Conserves Heroes website with a video and will have the opportunity to share their unique story.

The public will view the videos and then vote for the nominee they feel is most deserving of the $50,000 grand prize.

Click Here to vote for Nicole Chandler-Harper by October 15.

Cox Conserves Heroes is part of Cox Enterprises' national Cox Conserves sustainability program.

For more information on programs, initiatives and special events, visit the Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful website. Click Here to become a member.  Click Here to sign up for regular updates from KPB, Like them on Facebook, Follow on Twitter, Discover them on Pinterest and visit their YouTube Channel.

Also visit the Illegal Dump Free PA website for more ideas on how to clean up communities and keep them clean and KPB’s Electronics Waste website.

The  2020 Pick Up Pennsylvania Initiative is postponed until September 1 through November 30.  Questions should be directed to Michelle Dunn at 1-877-772-3673 Ext. 113 or send email to: mdunn@keeppabeautiful.org.

Keep PA Beautiful helps mobilize over 100,000 volunteers a year to pick up litter, clean up illegal dumping and beautify Pennsylvania.

[Posted: Oct. 1, 2020]

10/5/2020