KEEP ROME-FLOYD BEAUTIFUL RECEIVES GOVERNOR’S CIRCLE RECOGNITION

Keep Rome-Floyd Beautiful (KRFB) has received the 2025 Governor’s Circle Award for outstanding achievements in community beautification and environmental sustainability. The award, presented by the Keep Georgia Beautiful Foundation (KGBF), recognizes exemplary performance in litter reduction, waste minimization, and community greening.

To qualify, affiliates must be certified and in good standing with Keep America Beautiful (KAB) and actively participate in the KGBF network. Certified affiliates are expected to create meaningful, lasting change through litter prevention, recycling, waste reduction, and beautification initiatives.

“Across Georgia, we’re focused on creating clean, green, and beautiful communities for everyone to enjoy,” said Natalie Johnston-Russell, Executive Director of KGBF. “This year’s award recipients exemplify what’s possible when passion meets action, and we’re proud to recognize their outstanding contributions.”

“This recognition reflects the dedication of our volunteers, partners, and community members who show up every day to take pride in where they live,” said Hannah Bagley, Program Coordinator for KRFB. “Our work in 2025 was driven by collaboration and a shared commitment to leaving Rome and Floyd County cleaner, greener, and more beautiful for future generations.

KRFB’s 2025 Impact

• Litter Reduction: Removed 2,500+ pounds of litter through volunteer-led cleanups.
• Volunteer Engagement: 670 volunteers, 1,600 service hours, valued at $55,000.
• Major Projects: Revitalization of Unity Point, clearing overgrowth, restoring murals, and preparing the riverfront for public art and community use.

These efforts transformed neglected spaces into cleaner, safer, and more welcoming areas for residents and visitors.

Environmental Education

KRFB reached 2,745 students across 24 schools with hands-on programs aligned with Georgia Standards of Excellence. Initiatives included:

• Labs with KRFB
• Landfill field trips
• Croaky and Friends children’s book distribution

KRFB also launched a Community Cleanup Supply Library, modernized its brand, and implemented a GIS-based Litter Index Tool for data-driven decision-making.

About Keep Rome-Floyd Beautiful

Founded in 1976, KRFB is a certified affiliate of Keep America Beautiful and a member of the Keep Georgia Beautiful Foundation network. Its mission: To create a cleaner, greener, and more beautiful community through education, litter prevention, waste reduction, and beautification initiatives. KRFB operates out of the Rome-Floyd ECO Center, engaging hundreds of volunteers and thousands of students annually to inspire positive behavior change and long-term community impact.