The Golden Globes, Oscars, and Emmys have nothing on our 2024 Environmental Stewardship Awards! Held on May 1, this event proved that award presentations can be both exciting and inspiring.

Our emcees, Martin County Commissioner Ed Ciampi and Stacy Ranieri, President and Chief Illuminator of the Firefly Group, kept the audience engaged and entertained with their lively banter and off-script remarks. Everyone was eager to find out which of the eight winners, out of the forty-four nominees, would be honored for their outstanding environmental contributions.

Jeff Sabin, one of our founders and Government Affairs Director at Waste Management, reminisced about our humble beginnings. “Keep Martin Beautiful was hatched in a dentist office in Jensen Beach thirty years ago. Look at us now!” he said to a full house at Piper’s Landing Country Club.

Marshall Critchfield, External Affairs Manager for FPL, presented the Innovation award, highlighting FPL’s commitment to a cleaner energy future. “All of our nominees exemplify the best in thinking about environmental solutions for today and the future,” Critchfield noted.

This year’s winners are:

• Youth Engagement: Jensen Beach Elementary School for their Eco-Action Team
• Innovation: Martin County Public Works Department for the Savannas Weir project
• Environmental Restoration: Audubon of Martin County for the Pine Flatwoods Restoration
• Community Enrichment: Martin County Office of Tourism for the Explore Natural Martin Program
• Outstanding Adopt-a-Road: Mike Gonzalez and family for their outreach efforts
• Environmental Education: City of Stuart for their backyard composting program
• Community Impact: House of Hope for their comprehensive waste reduction and conservation initiatives

We also introduced a new award this year in memory of Wendy Lee Parker, our beloved Martin County Solid Waste Manager who passed away in March 2024. The Wendy Lee Parker Award honors a government employee showing exceptional dedication to community improvement. This year’s recipient, Anne Hawkins, City of Stuart Utilities and Engineering Program Manager, was recognized for her longstanding environmental commitment and the creation of the popular Waterfest event.

Jennifer Stull, President of the Keep Martin Beautiful Board of Directors, wrapped up the evening by celebrating the diversity of our winners and nominees. “The Environmental Stewardship Awards prove that our community’s love for the environment brings together people from all walks of life to work hard and celebrate the many ways in which we protect and conserve the beautiful place where we live,” she said.

For a complete list of all 44 nominees and descriptions of their projects, click here.

To view the event photo album, click here.

?For more information about how to get involved with Keep Martin Beautiful, visit our website at KeepMartinBeautiful.org or call us at 772-781-1222.

THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS

Champion Sponsors

Keep Martin Beautiful (KMB) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit community organization founded in 1994 as an affiliate of Keep America Beautiful. Its mission is to preserve and enhance the quality of life in Martin County through litter prevention, the promotion of recycling, improvement of solid waste management practices, and beautification and community revitalization activities.

KMB signature events and programs include the Environmental Stewardship Awards, the International Coastal Cleanup, the Great American Cleanup, the Adopt-A-Road and Adopt-A-Street programs, and other educational and outreach activities.

Find KMB on Facebook and Instagram and for more info visit KeepMartinBeautiful.org, email info@keepmartinbeautiful.org or call 772-781-1222.