The City of Atlanta announced that the Keep Atlanta Beautiful Commission, a division of the Department of Public Works and a Keep America Beautiful affiliate, received the President’s Circle Award at the recent Keep America Beautiful National Conference in Washington, D.C. The President’s Circle Award recognizes certified Keep America Beautiful affiliates committed to ending littering, improving recycling and beautifying their local community.

In qualifying for a President’s Circle Award, the Keep Atlanta Beautiful Commission met Keep America Beautiful’ s standards of merit by conducting an annual Community Appearance Index, an index which visually assesses overall appearance of communities through indicators such as litter, illegal signs, graffiti, abandoned or junk vehicles, and outside storage. In addition, the Commission conducted a cost/benefit analysis which measured the organization’s ability to leverage community resources to beautify Atlanta. The Keep Atlanta Beautiful Commission also formed a coalition of community organization committed to the mission, conducted community cleanups and hosted scrap tire drives.

“We are proud to be honored by Keep America Beautiful for the work we do every day to promote a cleaner, greener and sustainable Atlanta,” said Kanika Greenlee, Executive Director of the Keep Atlanta Beautiful Commission. “I would like to thank our partners who consist of several city departments, private organizations and local community groups. We are grateful they have joined our mission to take action and beautify our great city.”

Established in 1953, Keep America Beautiful consists of a national network of more than 620 community-based affiliates whose programs, initiatives and efforts, supported by millions of volunteers, help transform public spaces into beautiful places.

“One of Keep America Beautiful’s most effective tools is the work of our grassroots network of affiliate organizations, which has an impact on millions of Americans each year,” said Keep America Beautiful COO Becky Lyons. “Our affiliates are providing real solutions that help create communities that are socially connected, environmentally healthy and economically sound.”