By: Tiffany Smith, for Luminaries
More than 35 nominees including youth groups, individuals, businesses, government agencies and nonprofit organizations, were honored at the 2018 Keep Martin Beautiful Environmental Stewardship Awards ceremony Feb. 7 at Piper’s Landing Yacht & Country Club.
Nearly 200 guests attended the event to recognize the nominees’ outstanding efforts in community beautification and revitalization, litter and marine debris removal, product innovations and environmental education initiatives. Also, serving as the organization’s key fundraiser, the event raised nearly $25,000 to support its mission to improve and enhance the quality of life in Martin County.
“This was a really impressive group of nominees this year,” said Craig Ahal, president of Keep Martin Beautiful. “Our community cares deeply about the environment. The projects and initiatives undertaken by our nominees give us great hope for the future of Martin County and our planet.”
Before the awards were announced, guests bid on silent auction items that were, not surprisingly, all themed to complement Keep Martin Beautiful’s mission, including three 50-gallon recycling bins painted by local artists with sea turtles and other sea life, tropical leaves and flowers…