AUSTIN, TX (December 17, 2007) – Keep Austin Beautiful selected the winners for its annual environmental stewardship awards on Friday.  Eight winners and eight honorable mentions are being recognized for their outstanding achievements to improve and protect the Austin environment.  The winners will be honored at the Keep Austin Beautiful Awards Luncheon on February 6th.

For more than 20 years the Keep Austin Beautiful Awards have recognized the most outstanding environmental stewardship efforts in the community.  The awards go to winners in eight different categories covering a wide range of issues including environmental education, resource conservation, beautification and restoration; and representing a cross section of the community including neighborhoods, community groups, schools, businesses, non-profits and individuals.

“It is the commitment and action from organizations and individuals like the KAB award winners that continue to make Austin one of the greenest cities in the country,” said Brian Block, Executive Director of Keep Austin Beautiful.  “We are thrilled to recognize these environmental leaders who are leading the charge to protect and improve the Austin environment.”

The achievements of the 2007 award winners include renovating a rundown hotel into green built affordable housing condos, taking ownership of abused public spaces and restoring the habitat, recycling computers, and cleaning up neighborhoods and creeks, as well as innovative environmental education from an arts organization and a charter school, comprehensive environmental practices from a local company, and inspiring personal commitments from individuals. 

The 2007 award winners are:
Beautification
Winner:  Foundation Communities – Spring Terrace Condos
Honorable Mention:  TBG Partners - Town Lake Park

Community Involvement
Winner:  Friends of Convict Hill Quarry Park
Honorable Mention:  Copperfield Beautification Team – Copperfield Nature Trails

Applied Materials Education
Winner:  Austin Green Art
Honorable Mention: The Austin Chronicle Kill-a-Watt Challenge

Dennis Hobbs Individual Achievement
Winner:  Roger Myers

Industry Leadership
Winner: Whole Foods Market
Honorable Mention:  Applied Materials, Inc.

Litter Abatement
Winner:  Allied Waste/NACA
Honorable Mention: REI Austin Downtown – Shoal Creek Workdays

Recycling & Waste Reduction
Winner: Goodwill Industries of Central Texas Computer Recycling Program
Honorable Mention: Cycled Plastics

Freescale Youth Achievement
Winners:  Natalie Shea (Individual), Austin Discovery School (Group)