Affiliates, Annual Conference, Events

2025 Annual Conference

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The Keep Florida Beautiful (KFB) annual statewide conference, hosted by Keep Coral Gables Beautiful this year, was a huge success. Nearly 100 participants representing not only 29 KFB affiliates from across the state, but city officials from as far as Key West, and other environmental organizations gathered at the Hyatt Regency from November 5th through 7th, 2025. Attendees and presenters shared ideas for improving communications with state representatives, alternative recycling possibilities for areas with and without a recycling program, diversifying messaging, and so much more! The Keep Florida Beautiful annual conference is first and foremost a resource for affiliates and partners to network together, share ideas, learn from experts, and be reminded that they are not alone in what can be a very mentally and physically demanding position. Not only does it offer an intimate setting for affiliates to connect, it also showcases communities our affiliates impact. Each year the conference moves location, in the past we’ve hosted in Okaloosa, St. Johns County, Pasco, Lee County, Brevard, Martin, and more. This gives the hosting affiliate the opportunity to highlight their work and their area, giving other affiliates a chance to see programs in person and hopefully spark inspiration they will take back to their affiliate.

“I am so happy to have had the chance to see so many of our affiliates at our 2025 KFB Annual Conference. In attendance we had 29 affiliates, some of which I met for the first time. The conference is such a special time for us all to get together and exchange ideas. I am grateful to everyone who was able to join us,” said KFB executive director Sherry Carpenter. Attendees received meaningful educational training and also had an opportunity to enjoy local dining and shopping in downtown Coral Gables which was a short walk away.

“Keep Coral Gables Beautiful and its staff worked hard to bring this conference to life alongside KFB staff.  We appreciate the time they invested in making the experience welcoming and engaging for all of our affiliates.” The 2025 conference theme was “Engagement is beautiful.” How was this theme achieved? Attendees were able to engage with others through various sessions and and the Sunset Social, with scientists through a shark tagging experience, with presenters, and most importantly with the community through a downtown cleanup where attendees removed over 350lbs of litter!

 

Conference sponsors included: Keep Florida Beautiful, Keep Coral Gables Beautiful, Surfing’s Evolution & Preservation Foundation, 5 Gyres, Atmosphere TV, Volunteercleanup.org, EcoImprint, Garbo Grabber, and the City of Miami.

 

2025 Keep Florida Beautiful Award Winners

Awards were created by: Addy White @Ocean.plastics on Instagram

  1. Outstanding Project Award – Keep Manatee Beautiful – Hurricane Recovery Program : 280 dedicated volunteers came together to clean up local environments after two hurricanes. This cleanup initiative, which resulted in 25 cleanups, highlights the significant impact that community involvement can have on the health of the local environment. Through these efforts, 1680 hours of hard work led to the collection of an astonishing 145,000 pounds of debris, showcasing the importance of teamwork in creating a cleaner, healthier neighborhoods and downtown areas.
  2. Clean Community Award – Alachua County : Alachua is consistently working to keep their community clean and beautiful. They hold an annual Tire Round Up, collecting more than 1.43 tons of tires. Host tree planting events at places like Evergreen Cemetery, their Adopt-A-Road sponsors help keep the community clean, the roadways beautiful and the environment healthy, and neighborhood cleanups like in the Pine Ridge community. Thanks to the communities efforts,  1.84 tons of litter and bulk waste were removed.
  3.  Outstanding Partnership – Charlotte County Sheriff’s Office : Every spring, Deputy Lou Henyecz, Charlotte County Sheriff’s Office (CCSO), goes to Keep Charlotte Beautiful and asks to set up a Great American Cleanup of the county’s homeless areas. This year, for the Greatest American Cleanup, Deputy Lou was not only addressing one area but also a large property close by which was going to be sold, where 80 unhoused had taken up residence.  This would require a tremendous amount of sensitivity. The entire project removed 442,880 lbs. of debris. This project could not have possibly happened without everyone coming together. Of those 80 residents, 58 are now in housing due to a partnership between CCSO, St. Vincent DePaul Society, and Gulf Coast Partnership.
  4. Youth Champion – Asher Guillory with Keep Okaloosa Beautiful : Asher has established the Litter Locators group in Crestview, FL in Okaloosa County which has led to satellite chapters statewide. Litter locators is a social media platform working on helping to reduce plastic pollution, and litter in our community. The followers can identify, and report areas with heavy pollution. Passersby who notice litter but are unable to clean it themselves can share a comment detailing the issue. This information could then be used by community service groups, organizations looking for volunteer opportunities, or individuals passionate about helping the environment to organize cleanup efforts in those areas.
  5. Education Involvement – Keep Martin Beautiful : For their Environmental Stewardship Scholarship. The scholarship was created to support and inspire the next generation of environmental leaders—students who are passionate about protecting and enhancing our natural world. The scholarship program is a new initiative that provides financial assistance to help with educational expenses as students work toward a career that will positively impact our natural environment and environmental sustainability. This initiative assisted students from Clark Advanced Learning Center and Jensen Beach High School for their efforts in leadership, volunteer efforts in environmental projects, and environmental studies.
  6. Affiliate of the Year – Keep Franklin County Beautiful : KFCB, board members, volunteers, and supporters have redefined what is possible through determination and passion. Presenting at the Keep America Beautiful National conference as a fresh affiliate is no small feat. Not only did KFCB jump in to sharing their journey, KFCB saw an opportunity for innovation instead of a set back with their lack of recycling opportunities which prompted their glass to sand program. KFCB Artificial reef program ensures healthy marine habitats are made for aquatic life. KFCB has demonstrated that no challenge is too great. Your hard work is building a cleaner, greener, and more beautiful Franklin County.
  7. Champion of the Year – Joe Gross with Keep Tampa Bay Beautiful : Beyond innovation, Joe has been a powerful leader in action. He has captained countless projects, including Flight the Blight, the Bypass Canal Cleanup, and the Bethlehem Cemetery Beautification Project, while ensuring his team at Code Enforcement is always ready to support trash removal efforts. Joe’s expertise as a certified arborist has elevated KTBB’s tree-planting initiatives, teaching volunteers proper planting techniques and helping to restore the local canopy. To date, he has helped plant over 2,000 trees across Tampa Bay. Joe’s impact extends to Tampa Bay’s waterways. Under his leadership, technical divers joined KTBB’s Trash Free Waters Program, removing 320 scooters and other debris from the Hillsborough River. These efforts have not only improved water quality but also raised awareness of the environmental challenges facing our region.
  8. Outstanding Program – Keep Jacksonville Beautiful – Jax Litter League : Jacksonville’s trashiest competition (in the best possible way). This citywide cleanup challenge pits neighborhood teams against one another in a race to pick up litter, rack up points, and earn bragging rights — all while making our streets cleaner and our communities stronger. Led by T.P. McClean, their mischievous raccoon mascot, the Litter League turns civic pride into a team sport. Every bag collected counts. Every block cleaned matters.
  9. Adopt-A-Program – Adopt-A-Road Litter Prevention Initiative by Keep Wakulla County Beautiful : The Adopt-a-Road litter prevention initiative, sponsored by Keep Wakulla County Beautiful (KWCB), enables citizens to show their pride in Wakulla and safely reduce the amount of unsightly trash and illegal signage alongside county roadways. Unkempt communities are more likely to have increased crime, decreased economic growth and a decline in quality of life. The litter prevention efforts of the Adopt-a-Road program directly benefit the community through litter prevention, greater civic involvement, and area beautification. They also have a GIS map that shows adopted highways and roads which helps the community see and interact with areas in need.
  10. Volunteer of the Year – Alessandra Craveiro with Keep Pinellas Beautiful : Alessandra joined the KPB Ambassador Program at the end of 2023 as one of the first Garden Ambassadors in our new Community Garden Ambassador Network. This leadership program empowers volunteers to steward community gardens, develop environmental education, and strengthen collaboration between KPB and local organizations. From the moment she joined, Alessandra fully embraced the role, selecting the Sanderlin Rain Garden in St. Petersburg as her focus. Alessandra has become an integral part of its success, volunteering over 130 hours in the past year. Her contributions include teaching garden classes to students, hosting public volunteer events, leading children’s activities, directing improvement projects, and advocating for space in the broader community, all while contributing hands-on work during weekly maintenance days. Her work has helped transform the garden into a vibrant learning hub and model for community engagement.
  11. Breakout Affiliate – Keep Flagler Beach Beautiful : In a short time, KFBB has created powerful partnerships with local businesses and government officials. Their work has shown key lessons in how to launch an affiliate with immediate impact with programs like their aluminum can recycling. KFBB Shows that true change requires the effort of the entire community, they work alongside DEP, local hotels, visitors, and residents to inspire members to get out and make a difference.
  12. Conference Host: Keep Coral Gables Beautiful : Thank you to staff and volunteers with Keep Coral Gables Beautiful for all your hard work in making this conference happen!

Sunset Social:

The sunset social is a networking opportunity for affiliates in a more relaxed setting, this years social was sponsored by Atmosphere TV. Attendees were served heavy hors d’oeuvres and drinks of their choice. Held at Bay 13 the outdoor setting was gorgeous with their beautiful water feature, attendees were encouraged to decompress and enjoy each others company without the typical conference pressures weighing on them.

 

Shark Tagging:

Affiliates were able to purchase an add on experience where they boarded a research boat with the University of Miami and worked

alongside scientists and UM Interns to catch sharks. Attendees learned about the equipment used, before they were able to drop the drum lines and reel them back in. A nurse shark was captured during the experience, which allowed attendees to assist with tasks such as: taking samples, check for parasites, measure the animal and more! Attendees even got to witness the UM team remove an older hook found in the sharks mouth! This experience offered a once in a lifetime moment for attendees to speak and work with scientists, get up close to sharks, see first hand the animals their work impacts, and network together out in nature.

 

 

 

 

Thank you to everyone who attended this years conference. While we know there is always room for improvement, we truly appreciate the time you all take to attend and spread your expertise with one another. Florida affiliates are making outstanding changes in the state and we are so proud of each and every one of you! See you all next year in Pinellas County!

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