Illinois EPA Director Renee Cipriano announces $75,000 grant to Keep Illinois Beautiful and its affiliates      

Beautification, waste reduction and environmental education will benefit

[MAY 16, 2005]  SPRINGFIELD -- Illinois EPA Director Renee Cipriano announced on Tuesday a $75,000 grant award to Keep Illinois Beautiful and its 13 affiliates.

At IEPA Headquarters in Springfield a ceremonial check was presented to Keep Illinois Beautiful President Joyce Kagan Charmatz and representatives of local affiliates.

"Keep Illinois Beautiful and its affiliates observe Earth Day year-round by improving the environment through education, public awareness and community involvement," Cipriano said. "On behalf of Governor Rod Blagojevich, I am proud today to be able to announce this grant to help them continue their hard work to keep Illinois clean and green."

The funds come from a portion of the enforcement penalties received by the Illinois EPA.

Each of the 13 Keep Illinois Beautiful affiliates will receive $5,000 to be used for environmental education, waste reduction (reducing litter and increasing recycling), beautification and community improvement. The remainder of the funds will be used to support the state nonprofit organization and its website.

"We are delighted to be working with Director Cipriano and the Illinois EPA," said Charmatz. "We look forward to expanding Keep Illinois Beautiful affiliates in additional communities throughout Illinois."

The local affiliates are Elgin Proud & Beautiful, Keep Carbondale Beautiful, Keep Centralia Beautiful, Clean & Green, Keep Chicago Beautiful, Keep Evanston Beautiful, Keep Mount Vernon/Jefferson County Beautiful, Keep Oak Park Beautiful, Keep Rock Island Clean & Beautiful, Keep Salem Beautiful, Keep Vermillion County Beautiful, Keep West Cook Beautiful, Peoria City Beautiful, and Winnebago/Rockford Clean & Beautiful.

[Illinois Environmental Protection Agency news release]