"Trek Against Trash: The Hike to Keep America Beautiful" benefits litter prevention, waste reduction and beautification efforts
STAMFORD, Conn., March 24 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Georgia residents Jordan Price and Carlie Roberts - two inspired and passionate eco-enthusiasts - have embarked on an environmental campaign along the Appalachian Trail in the name of national nonprofit Keep America Beautiful (KAB), the Trek Against Trash: The Hike to Keep America Beautiful. The couple has pledged to start a revolution by demonstrating how simple it is for everyone to lessen their environmental impact by practicing "reduce, reuse, recycle" principles, preventing litter, and getting involved in local cleanup efforts. Jordan and Carlie plan on trekking the 2,174 miles from Springer Mountain, Ga., to Mount Katahdin, Maine, to raise $150,000 for KAB programs.
"We are thrilled about teaming up with Jordan and Carlie as they take on such a fantastic feat for the greater good of our environment," said Matt McKenna, president and CEO of Keep America Beautiful, Inc. "We believe they are a shining example of a new generation of environmental stewards because they embody KAB's core values and ideals to reduce their environmental impact by taking personal responsibility." Along the way - and in the spirit of KAB Man (one of their personal heroes - kabman.org) - they will be working with KAB affiliates in trail communities to raise awareness by cleaning up litter, stenciling storm drains, planting trees and participating in other local greening activities. They hope to lead by example and have others follow the trend to take responsibility for the environmental well-being of their communities.
"This hike is something we're very passionate about, as we feel we can make a positive impact on the environment," said Jordan Price. "We want to show that while not everyone is able to hike 2,000 miles, or even one mile for that matter, being a responsible consumer in every day life is really quite simple!" The Appalachian Trail -- also known as the A.T. -- passes through Georgia, North Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New York, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Vermont, New Hampshire and Maine. It is 2,174 miles and ranges in elevation from a low of 124 feet to a high of 6,625 feet. Since the 1930s, less than 10,000 people have hiked the entire Appalachian Trail and the expenses can exceed $8,000 per hiker to complete the journey.
Jordan and Carlie hope to spread word of their effort through media exposure and through a dedicated Web page - TrekAgainstTrash.org. The page serves as the central location for online donations, following the trek's progress and leaving messages for Jordan and Carlie. Their efforts have caught the attention of sponsors such as Sprint and Leki, who have signed on to support them.
Keep America Beautiful believes that each of us has an obligation to preserve and protect our environment. Through our everyday choices and actions, including reducing, reusing and recycling, we collectively have a huge impact on our world. It's a simple concept, but one with far-reaching effects. KAB follows a practical approach that unites citizens, businesses and government to find solutions that advance its core issues of preventing litter, reducing waste and beautifying communities.
Simple things everyone can do to keep the environment clean: -- Don't litter. Do your part to reduce litter's impact on the environment by joining in local cleanup efforts. Find events at kab.org. -- If you smoke, properly dispose of your cigarette butts. -- Plant trees, flowers and shrubs to beautify your community. -- Donate to your local community KAB affiliate; find one at kab.org. -- Know your local recycling rules and remember that "reduce and reuse" come first.
-- Lots of litter is unintentional. Make sure your trash bags and cans are secured.
-- Carry an empty water bottle and be sure to properly recycle all of your beverage containers.
-- Take a reusable bag on your next shopping trip and be sure to reuse or recycle any single-use bags, whether paper or plastic.
About Keep America Beautiful, Inc.
Keep America Beautiful, Inc., established in 1953, is the nation's largest volunteer-based community action and education organization. With a network of nearly 1,000 affiliate and participating organizations, Keep America Beautiful forms public-private partnerships and programs that engage individuals to take greater responsibility for improving their community environments. For additional information, visit kab.org. DATASOURCE: Keep America Beautiful, Inc.
CONTACT: Robert Wallace of Keep America Beautiful, Inc., +1-203-323-8987, Ext. 811, ; or Carrie Blewett of Qorvis Communications, +1-703-744-7816, , for Keep America Beautiful, Inc.
Web Site: http://www.kab.org/
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