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Overview
Keep Houston Beautiful is the city's leading organization in beautification, litter reduction and recycling education. For 30 years, Keep Houston Beautiful has been reaching out to all segments of our community to educate and empower individuals to take greater responsibility for beautifying and enhancing Houston's environment. Each year's successes have created a cleaner and healthier city for all Houstonians.
Keep Houston Beautiful is a Better Business Bureau member and an Accredited Charity.
Keep Houston Beautiful is a Better Business Bureau member and an Accredited Charity.
We Beautify
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KHB organized the first anti-litter campaign in 1979.
KHB stores its trash bags and hand tools at City of Houston Environmental Service Center. Volunteers and community groups borrow tools for cleanups and beautification. In 2010-2011 volunteers removed 3,672 illegally dumped tires, cleaned 673 vacant lots and cleared 154 illegal dumpsites. KHB's partnership with the City of Houston's Department of Public Works and Engineering Right-of-Way Mowing and Fleet Maintenance has resulted in an award winning Adopt-A-Ditch program. KHB's, Adopt-A-Block program has created a self-sustaining effort helping individuals and groups keep parts of our city litter-free. To date we have 83 organizations participating in this program. | KHB's partnership in the Keep 5 Alive program has helped beautify and restore the historic 5th Ward neighborhood.
KHB's Great American Cleanup is a nationally recognized litter removal program where KHB lends tools and supplies for community groups to conduct their own beautification projects. In 2011, 4,699 volunteers conducted 172 events and donated 18,796 hours of their time. Participating volunteers picked up 1,053,608 pounds of litter and debris, cleaned 224 miles of roads and highways, cleaned 18 parks, planted 450 trees and collected 499 illegally dumped tires between March 1, and May 31 2011. KHB is an affiliate of Keep America Beautiful, Inc. and a member of Keep Texas Beautiful. |
We Teach
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Keep Houston Beautiful is at the forefront of enlightening the public. From instructing businesses on how to buy recycled products to educating community volunteers in Civic Leaders Training sessions, KHB has reached out to tens of thousands of individuals. The Keep Houston Beautiful youth programs are also valued by numerous teachers throughout the Houston area who use Keep America Beautiful, Inc.'s Waste-In-Place environmental curriculum guide.
These programs in conjunction with KHB publications help guide individuals and businesses through a variety of beautification projects. Whether you want to plant an esplanade, plan a community cleanup or stop illegal dumping in your neighborhood, Keep Houston Beautiful offers the information and resources to get the job done.
These programs in conjunction with KHB publications help guide individuals and businesses through a variety of beautification projects. Whether you want to plant an esplanade, plan a community cleanup or stop illegal dumping in your neighborhood, Keep Houston Beautiful offers the information and resources to get the job done.
With Youth
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KHB has touched young people's lives for over 30 years with special events and environmental educational programs such as: The Youth Advisory Board works with staff to create opportunities for high school students to participate in projects to improve their campus environments. Influencing young adults through the Youth Environmental Leadership Conference. Involving youths in the Graffiti Hurts program which transforms and beautifies neighborhoods while producing works of mural art.
We Recognize Others
KHB shines a light on the true leaders and projects that help make Houston a cleaner and more beautiful city. These exemplary efforts all obtain significant recognition through: The Mayor's Proud Partners Awards The Golden Glove Awards Volunteer Recognition Event | We depend on volunteers and donations of all types. Whether you want to help plant a garden on a spring weekend or want to assist in beautifying a neighborhood, we hope you'll become involved. Your time and talents are always appreciated by Keep Houston Beautiful. We also rely on financial and in-kind support from individuals, corporations and foundations. In return, you will be a partner with an organization that affects the lives of all Houstonians and works hard to make our city a place we are proud to call home. |
We Lead
Our many years of experience working with Houston neighborhoods, city and county services and other community organizations makes us a necessary resource and the catalyst to make things happen in our city.
Our Clean Neighborhoods program is a national model for preventing urban litter, transforming neglected areas, reducing crime and revitalizing neighborhoods. We mobilize area residents and teach them how to utilize critical services and resources so that they can experience pride in the beautification of their own neighborhoods.
Our Clean Neighborhoods program is a national model for preventing urban litter, transforming neglected areas, reducing crime and revitalizing neighborhoods. We mobilize area residents and teach them how to utilize critical services and resources so that they can experience pride in the beautification of their own neighborhoods.
History
The Houston Clean City Commission, d.b.a. Keep Houston Beautiful, was created in 1979 and charged with the task of creating a clean and beautiful city.
As a local affiliate of the national organization, Keep America Beautiful, Keep Houston Beautiful learned that the way to lasting improvement was through education and a change of attitude by each individual as to his or her personal responsibility towards the environment. Therefore, during its 30-year history, training, positive reinforcement and recognition have been major components of all the program activities.
Encouraging and supporting cleanup and beautification projects by neighborhoods and community groups is another focus of Keep Houston Beautiful. In 1998, the City of Houston awarded a grant to Keep Houston Beautiful to operate the Clean Neighborhoods Program. This program was used as a case study to develop a best practice on Urban Partnerships to prevent litter and illegal dumping guide for the U.S. conference of Mayors and Keep America Beautiful, Inc. “Building Clean, Livable Cities” nation litter summit in 1999. During its 30-year history, Keep Houston Beautiful has received local, regional and national recognition and has a successful track record of working with local businesses and leading Houston corporations to promote effective partnerships solutions to eliminating urban blight.
As a local affiliate of the national organization, Keep America Beautiful, Keep Houston Beautiful learned that the way to lasting improvement was through education and a change of attitude by each individual as to his or her personal responsibility towards the environment. Therefore, during its 30-year history, training, positive reinforcement and recognition have been major components of all the program activities.
Encouraging and supporting cleanup and beautification projects by neighborhoods and community groups is another focus of Keep Houston Beautiful. In 1998, the City of Houston awarded a grant to Keep Houston Beautiful to operate the Clean Neighborhoods Program. This program was used as a case study to develop a best practice on Urban Partnerships to prevent litter and illegal dumping guide for the U.S. conference of Mayors and Keep America Beautiful, Inc. “Building Clean, Livable Cities” nation litter summit in 1999. During its 30-year history, Keep Houston Beautiful has received local, regional and national recognition and has a successful track record of working with local businesses and leading Houston corporations to promote effective partnerships solutions to eliminating urban blight.
Organizational Structure
Keep Houston Beautiful is a 501 (c) 3, non-profit organization. It is governed by a 43-member Commission which is supported by a small professional staff. Commissioners are appointed by the Mayor and confirmed by City Council. The Board members serve on one of six committees- Executive Committee, Council District Commissioners Committee, Environmental Education Committee, Cleanup/Beautification Committee, Marketing/Communications Committee and Recognition Committee. The Board of Directors meets bi-monthly with each committee meeting as needed.
Our Vision
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Our vision is for Houston to be recognized nationally as one of the cleanest, most beautiful metropolitan cities in America.
| Our Mission
Through education and community partnerships, foster resident and neighborhood awareness of the important role citizens can play in preserving the natural beauty and visual amenities of our city
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GoalsProvide continuous education and public awareness efforts that support and promote sound waste management activities.
Plan, develop and implement neighborhood-based litter cleanup programs and activities. Coordinate and implement landscaping improvements. Maintain fiscal sustainability and accountability. | Year 2012 Strategic Priorities
Provide continuous education and public awareness efforts that support and promote litter prevention and waste minimization. Plan, develop and implement neighborhood-based cleanup and beautification initiatives.Recognize outstanding contributions by individuals and organizations toward fulfilling the mission of Keep Houston Beautiful.
Conduct fund raising efforts as a non-profit, 501 (c) 3 organization to bring complementary funding (or in-kind good/services) for waste management education/public awareness programs and community beautification activities, above and beyond local government appropriations for such programs. |
KHB Staff
Robin Blut, Executive Director: rblut@houstonbeautiful.org
Reisha Beaty: Events and Volunteer Manager: rbeaty@houstonbeautiful.org Michael Aden, Warehouse Technician: warehouse@houstonbeautiful.org | KHB Associates
Esther de Ipolyi, Public Relations
Isaac Cruz, Accounting |
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