For Immediate Release
For more information, please contact:
Robin Blut
(713)-839-8855 office; (713) 805-1201 cellular
KEEP HOUSTON BEAUTIFUL
GIVES AWARD FOR COMMUNITY IMPROVEMENT TO CONOCOPHILLIPS
20 th Annual Mayor's Proud Partner Luncheon scheduled for September 20, 2004
Houston, Texas (September 20, 2004)-The 20 th annual Mayor's Proud Partners Luncheon will be held at Noon, Monday, September 20 at the Hilton Americas, 1600 Lamar (Key Map 493 Q). Keep Houston Beautiful, the local affiliate of Keep America Beautiful, Inc., sponsors the Proud Partners Awards Competition and the Mayor's Proud Partners Luncheon.
Mayor Bill White will be presenting the 2004 Outstanding Proud Partner of the Year Award to ConocoPhillips. This year's Beautification Award is being awarded to Central Houston Inc. and the Downtown Management District.
“The Proud Partner Award winners that we are honoring this year are excellent role models of community activism and concern,” said Bill Linthicum, Area President Republic Waste Services and Chair, Keep Houston Beautiful.
For twenty years, Keep Houston Beautiful has recognized individuals and organizations who help make Houston a cleaner and more beautiful city. Other honorees include individuals, businesses, civic organizations, government agencies and schools that make our city shine.
This is the third year that, Penny and John Butler, will be chairing the luncheon. “I am amazed by what a group of dedicated volunteers can do to transform our magnificent city. These incredible individuals and exceptional organizations are committed to both creating and maintaining a higher quality of life for us all. Their work is a testament to neighborhood pride and community involvement,” stated Penny Butler.
Penny Butler has been involved with Keep Houston Beautiful as a Houston Clean City Commissioner for 12 years. Jose Griñan, News Anchor FOX 26, will serve as Masters of Ceremonies.
2004 Outstanding Proud Partner Award
ConocoPhillips
Contact: Sue S. Reed, Director of Corporate Events and Community Outreach, ConocoPhillips
(281) 293-1039
Zip Code: 77079
Receiving the 2004 Outstanding Proud Partner Award is ConocoPhillips. Archie Dunham, Chairman will accept the award. ConocoPhillips is the third-largest integrated energy company in the United States. The company's purpose is to use its pioneering spirit to responsibly deliver energy to the world. As a corporation, and through individual employee volunteers, ConocoPhillips is actively involved in supporting education, the arts, safety and social services, youth development and environmental protection – both here in Houston, and in more than forty countries around the world where it does business. In Houston, ConocoPhillips became the founding corporate sponsor of the Keep Five Alive campaign almost fourteen years ago. This neighborhood revitalization initiative in Houston's historic Fifth Ward and Denver Harbor neighborhoods has helped to breathe new life and hope into these formerly depressed areas. In partnership with Keep Houston Beautiful, hundreds of ConocoPhillips employees, retirees and family members regularly work side-by-side with residents and volunteers from 50 civic organizations. Over the year, their dedication and hard work have refurbished more than 100 homes, collected 2.5 million pounds of debris, cleared 375 lots, repaired and painted a gymnasium, made numerous esplanade improvements, beautified four neighborhood parks and a historic cemetery, implemented a tire removal program and much more.
Central Houston Inc. and the Downtown Management District
Contact: Robert (Bob) M. Eury, President, Central Houston Inc.
(713) 650-1470
Zip Codes: 77010 and 77002
Robert (Bob) M. Eury will be accepting the 2004 Beautification Award for Central Houston Inc. and the Downtown Management District. Since 1983, Central Houston, Inc. has led the effort to revitalize downtown by fostering collaboration among public officials, developers and businesses. The organization's initiatives have ranged from organizing huge volunteer cleanups to the funding and development of landmark public spaces like Main Street Square, a new civic heart for the city. Notable beautification initiatives have included creation of a downtown scenic district and recently, an All-Star Game tree planting. Central Houston has also facilitated creation of new collaborative entities to advance downtown's resurgence such as the Downtown Management District. Created by the legislature to provide supplemental services and improvements, the Houston Downtown Management District offers services, redevelopment assistance and capital improvements that are making a significant impact on downtown. The District leads in improving downtown's day-to-day quality of life. It cleans sidewalks, picks up litter, collects trash, mows grass, removes graffiti, waters and prunes street trees, maintains shrubs and plants seasonal flowers, and hangs colorful banners and holiday decorations. Both Central Houston and the Downtown District are passionate about the quality of life in downtown for its workforce, residents, and visitors.
Other Proud Partner Award recipients
Birds and Bats on the Bayou
University of Houston-Downtown, Buffalo Bayou Partnership, and Kids on the Bayou
Contact: Lawrence Spence, Project Coordinator for Kids on the Bayou
(281) 684-0288
Zip Code: 77002
Lawrence Spence, Project Coordinator for Kids on the Bayou, will be accepting the award for this collaborative effort between UH-Downtown, US Fish and Wildlife Service, Houston Parks and Recreation, Harris County Flood Control, Buffalo Bayou Partnership and Kids on the Bayou. This habitat creation/restoration project for migratory birds and bats in downtown Houston first began back in 2002 when The Harris County Flood Control District provided and dispersed more than 100 pounds of wildflower seed in Wood Park along the north bank of White Oak Bayou. Additional seed was spread along the channel between the newly renovated Willow Street Pump Station and the Harris County Jail. In fall 2003, volunteers dispersed 100 pounds of native grass and wildflower seed in Goyen Park on UH-Downtown property. Through continuous volunteer labor and cooperation from public entities, downtown areas along the bayous are being transformed by this unique conservation effort to attract birds, bats, and human visitors.
Braeburn Elementary School
Contact: Ivonne Rodriguez, Fifth Grade Teacher at Braeburn Elementary School
(713) 295-5210
Zip Code: 77081
Ivonne Rodriguez, Team Leader, will be accepting the award for Braeburn Elementary School's B.O.B.C.A.T. Wildlife Learning Center. This habitat is a haven for Texas natural wildlife. The students carefully selected the vegetation to sustain the many members of the habitat. Readily accessible to all of the students and teachers, on-going instructor training focuses on how to incorporate the habitat into daily lesson plans for all content areas. Thus students and teachers have an opportunity to achieve district curriculum objectives through hands-on learning experiences and the ability to apply classroom lessons to real life situations.
Hardy Toll Road Airport Connector Enhancement Project
North Houston Association, Harris County Toll Road Authority, Trees for Houston, Houston Airport System, and Texas Department of Transportation
Contact: Paula Lenz, Executive Director of North Houston Association
(281) 875-0660
Zip Code: 77060
Senator Jon Lindsay, President of North Houston Association and Catherine McCreight, Director of Public Affairs for HNTB, will be accepting the award for this collaborative effort. The landscaping improvements to the Hardy Toll Road to J.F.K. Boulevard is the largest project ever undertaken by the TX DOT - Houston District and displays the dramatic improvement landscaping provides to roadways. This airport connector to Intercontinental Airport is now a lush welcome providing a scenic first impression for airport visitors. The use of Houston-friendly foliage also showcases the natural beauty of the area and includes a mix of deciduous, flowering and evergreen trees along with native grasses, shrubbery and wildflowers to provide year-round beauty. An irrigation system ensures that the new vegetation will thrive and become established quickly.
Hermann Park Conservancy
Contact: Doreen Stoller, Executive Director of Hermann Park Conservancy
(713) 524-5876
Zip Code: 77030
Jane Anderson Curtis, Board Chairman, will be accepting the award for the Hermann Park Conservancy. The crown jewel of the revitalization of Hermann Park by the Hermann Park Conservancy is the Mary Gibbs and Jesse H. Jones Reflection Pool. The restoration of the Reflection Pool is a part of the “Heart of the Park” development that began with a national design competition in 1992 organized by the Rice Design Alliance, the City of Houston and the Hermann Park Conservancy. This impressive civic monument has a black clay bottom providing maximum reflection, sculpted limestone edges, and a “white water” cascade at its north end. Measuring 740 feet long and 80 feet wide, its is adorned by historic live oak trees, light fixtures, and benches along its edges that are always filled with the pool's many visitors.
Mighty Tidy
Port of Houston Authority, Buffalo Bayou Partnership, Harris County Supplemental Environmental Program, and Harris County Flood Control District
Contact: Argentina M. James, Director of Public Affairs of Port of Houston Authority
(713) 670-2568
Zip Code: 77029
Argentina James, Director of Public Affairs for the Port of Houston Authority, will be accepting the award on behalf of the partnership between the Port of Houston Authority, Buffalo Bayou Partnership, Harris County Supplemental Environmental Program, and Harris County Flood Control District. A large amount of the litter thrown into Houston's streets is washed by the rains into the bayous creating a tidal wave of trash at the Port of Houston. The floatable trash follows the Houston Ship Channel to Galveston Bay and ultimately the Gulf of Mexico. In June 2003, the trash skimmer boat Mighty Tidy was launched creating the largest storm water pollution cleanup program in area history. The bright pink vessel collects floating debris along Buffalo Bayou to the Port of Houston's Turning Basin. The name Mighty Tidy was selected from entries submitted by elementary school children. During its first year of operation, the skimmer boat's two-man crew has picked up more than 1200 cubic yards of trash.
Urban Link
Contact: Brian Schaffer, Executive Director of Urban Link
(281) 444-7585
Zip Code: 77068
Brian Schaffer, Executive Director, will be accepting the award for Urban Link. In collaboration with the Church of the Nazarene, Urban Link chose Houston as the site of its youth conference in 2003. The conference's goal was to tackle 160 community service projects in Houston using 10,000-12,000 teenagers. This vast army of young volunteers cut weeded lots, abated graffiti, painted churches, homes and community buildings, organized a community festival for the Denver Harbor, Sunnyside daycares and the Sunnyside Community Center, and assisted the Southeast Branch Red Cross with its Sun Shade Kids Program. Each young person showed great commitment and dedication to helping others.
Tinsley Elementary SPARK Park & Nature Center
SPARK School Park Program
Contact: Kathleen Ownby, Executive Director of SPARK School Park Program
(713) 247-2909
Zip Codes: 77002 and 77096
Eleanor Tinsley, President and Founder, will be accepting the award for SPARK School Park Program. The Tinsley Elementary SPARK Park and Nature Center was formed by taking a detention pond green space used for drainage control and transforming it into a schoolyard nature center, which is a haven for native plants and birds, insects, butterflies and turtles. This now beautiful place allows students, staff and the community an opportunity to play, observe and learn. Volunteer architects Michael Mauer and Hyung-Soak Lee of M2L Associates designed the project, and Boy Scouts working for their Eagle Scout rank implemented the plans. A bridge was built over the detention pond and a walking trail paved with crushed granite was added. The gardens are filled with cacti, vegetables, and plants that attract butterflies and rocks.
City of Houston - Mayor's Anti-Gang Office
Contact: Patricia Harrington, Director of the Mayor's Anti-Gang Program
(713) 247-1576
Zip Codes: 77002 and 77081
Tanya
Makany, United Minds Youth Coordinator, will be accepting the award for the
City of Houston-Mayor's Anti-Gang Program. United Minds is a very active
community youth group originally formed by the Mayor's Anti-Gang Office and
the Gulfton Weed and Seed effort in 1997 to provide area young persons a way
to develop leadership skills, civic responsibility, and positive relationships
through their work with adult role models from a variety of backgrounds.
Every week, the group meets to discuss how to implement future community service
projects, and to work on team building exercises with their mentors.
This year the youth tackled some demanding projects such as the May 5 th
Graffiti Wipe Out where they worked all day to cover up targets of graffiti
such as a the Kroger Signature Store in the Gulfton area. Whenever there
is a community cleanup, the United Minds can be counted on to participate and
work hard.
CenterPoint Energy
Contact: Sharon Owens, Vice-President of Community Relations
(713) 207-7166
Zip Code: 77002
Sharon Owens, Vice-President of Community Relations, will be accepting the award for CenterPoint Energy. Scenic Galveston, Inc. purchased Virginia Point, a 1500-acre tract of coastal prairie and wetland habitat adjacent to I-45 and the Galveston Causeway in February 2004. For many years, trash had accumulated along that shoreline after washing down from Houston-area watersheds. In order to help the organization achieve its dream of a high-visibility marsh preserve along the highway approach to Galveston, CenterPoint Energy, in partnership with the Rivers, Lakes, Bays & Bayous Trash Bash, sponsored a cleanup of this shoreline. On March 27, more than 200 volunteers including 50 CenterPoint Energy employees and family members collected over 11 tons of trash and 50 tires for proper disposal. When they finished, more than one mile of coastline was pristine.
Elizabeth (Liz) D. McMillin
Contact: Bessie Stratton, Chair of the Washington Ave. Coalition Super Neighborhood #22
(281) 313-9242
Zip Code: 77007
Toby McMillin is accepting the award for his mother Liz McMillin as she is recovering from surgery. Liz became the executive director of the Washington on Westcott Roundabout Initiative, Inc. in 2001. She immediately threw herself passionately into the task of promoting the roundabout, conducting meetings to keep the community informed, and raising funds. She met with architects and tree experts concerning the fate of a 180-year-old post oak tree, and moved the roundabout instead of risking the tree by moving it. With diligence and patience, Liz kept the roundabout project progressing forward, and the infrastructure was at long last funded by the city. Ground was broken in December 2003, and an early fall 2004 completion date is anticipated. Liz's contribution to the beautification of Washington Avenue cannot be underestimated. The whole community hopes for Liz's full recovery and rapid return to community service.
Waste Management
“Team Up to Clean Up”
Waste Management, Inc.
Contact: Sarah Simpson, Director, External Communications
(713) 394-2154
Zip Code: 77002
Barry H. Caldwell, Senior Vice President, Government Affairs and Corporate Communications, and Brett Frazier, Vice President of the Houston Market Area, are accepting the award for Waste Management. In partnership with Keep Houston Beautiful, Waste Management underwrote a series of cleanups designed to foster civic responsibility, build community support and pride, and improve the visual appearance of the city prior to the Super Bowl game held in Houston at Reliant Stadium on February 1, 2004. For six consecutive Saturdays, the neighborhood cleanups tackled strategic locations in terms of event venues or routes associated with the Super Bowl. The effort culminated on the seventh Saturday, January 10, 2004, in a Super Sweep by 2,000 volunteers who cleaned from downtown Houston all the way to Reliant Stadium. More than 3,800 “Team Up to Clean Up” volunteers worked in 26 neighborhoods, cleaned 12 parks, painted over 18 graffiti sites, and planted nearly 500 flowers and trees. The volunteers collected a grand total of 173,900 pounds of trash and picked up 1,447 illegally dumped tires. Waste Management donated all the trash bags and refuse containers used for each event. The company hauled away all of the trash at no expense to the city.
Houston Chronicle
Contact: Rachel Roberts, Assistant City Editor
(713) 362-6268
Zip Code: 77002
Robert Crowe, Reporter, will be accepting the award for the Houston Chronicle. Since February 2, 2003, the Houston Chronicle has provided Watch ‘Em, a daily column in which the newspaper helps readers who have been unsuccessful in getting public entities or private companies to address nuisance problems throughout the area. The problems tackled are the types of issues faced by citizens every day, and the solutions likely have helped numerous other people solve similar issues in their neighborhoods. Readers can either email or phone in their problems. The majority deal with vacant/overgrown lots, abandoned houses, potholes and damaged street signs. Almost every problem published by the Chronicle has been solved and the daily columns follow each issue to resolution. Helpful information such as contact names and phone numbers are provided in the explanations of how the problems were solved. All of the problems handled by the Watch ‘Em column are archived on the Chronicle's website at www.houstonchronicle.com/watchem so that readers can look up the helpful information easily.
Greater East End Management District
“A Gift of Time” Alief Super Neighborhood Super Bowl Neighborhood Cleanup and Tree Planting
Max North - Corporate Video Imaging
American Heart Association (Texas Gulf Coast Regional Headquarters)
Kirksey
Chavez High School Environmental Science Magnet Program
The E.R. and Ann Taylor Family, in partnership with the Houston Parks Board, Inc.
Beth Miller
Trees for Houston
The Upper Kirby District
HONORABLE MENTION
Wolff Companies
Carverdale Super Neighborhood
Greater Fondren Southwest Super Neighborhood #36
Helfman Religious School's 1 st and 2 nd Grade Tu B'Shvat Mitzvah Project
Congregation Emanu El
Rotaract Club of River Oaks
The Midtown Management District and The Midtown Redevelopment Authority
Project G.R.O.W.
Museum of Cultural Arts Houston (MOCAH)
Families Under Urban and Social Attack, Inc.
Westchase District
Christopher Larson
MetroNational and Memorial City Management District
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