August 1, 2025 · McCall Vrydaghs
Denver CO, August 1, 2025 — Governor Jared Polis joined local volunteers and civic leaders this morning at Paco Sánchez Park in Denver to officially launch Keep Colorado Beautiful, a new statewide affiliate of Keep America Beautiful®, the nation’s leading community improvement nonprofit. The celebratory community cleanup, held on Colorado Day, marked both the state’s 150th birthday and the debut of Colorado’s first statewide affiliate, which will lead efforts to keep communities throughout the state cleaner, greener, and more beautiful.
“We can’t wait to see what comes of this work and this effort, not just in Denver, but across the entire state, powered by so many volunteers,” Governor Polis said at the event. “We thank Keep America Beautiful and Keep Colorado Beautiful for helping to make our state an even better place.”
“We are delighted to welcome Keep Colorado Beautiful to our family of affiliates,” said Jennifer Lawson, President and CEO of Keep America Beautiful. “Colorado is a state of breathtaking landscapes and vibrant communities, and this new affiliate will help ensure that those places remain clean, green, and beautiful for generations to come.”
As the newest addition to KAB’s nationwide network of more than 700 affiliates, Keep Colorado Beautiful will support local and statewide efforts to prevent litter, promote recycling, increase beautification, and build sustainable public spaces. The new affiliate also joins KAB’s flagship initiative, the Greatest American Cleanup® for America’s 250th, a historic campaign mobilizing millions of volunteers to prepare public spaces across the U.S. for the nation’s 250th birthday in 2026.
Jenifer Freeman, President and CEO of Keep Colorado Beautiful, expressed her gratitude for the support that brought the new affiliate to life.
“We are deeply grateful to Governor Polis for joining us today and to Keep America Beautiful for helping us make this vision a reality,” Freeman said. “Our journey began when our founder, Nick Wilson, attended a Keep America Beautiful conference and was inspired to come back to Colorado to launch this affiliate. Today, thanks to our incredible volunteers and the many partners who share our passion, we are ready to keep Colorado beautiful for generations to come.”
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Keep America Beautiful is a leading national nonprofit that inspires and empowers people to improve and beautify the places they call home. Through its national network of affiliates and partners, Keep America Beautiful delivers programs that end littering, improve recycling, and create cleaner, greener, and more beautiful communities. For more information, visit www.kab.org.
Leslie McClain
Keep America Beautiful
1-703-517-4550
lmcclain@kab.org
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