2015 Great American Cleanup to being by ringing NYSE closing bell

Keep America Beautiful will ring the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) closing bell today to celebrate the launch of the Keep America Beautiful Great American Cleanup. Lowe’s Market Director, Michael Ricciardi, and Keep America Beautiful President and CEO, Jennifer Jehn, will be joined by representatives from Lowe’s and Keep America Beautiful on the NYSE podium.

Entering its 17th year, the Great American Cleanup is the country’s largest community improvement program that kicks off in more than 20,000 communities each spring. Each year, the Great American Cleanup engages more than 4 million volunteers and participants across the country to take action in their local communities to create positive change and lasting impact. Led by more than 600 Keep America Beautiful affiliates and hundreds of other participating community-based organizations, Great American Cleanup events and education programs help to renew parks, trails and recreation areas; clean shorelines and waterways; remove litter and debris; reduce waste and increase recycling; and plant trees, flowers and community gardens, among other activities to inspire a new generation of community stewards.

Lowe’s is participating in its third Great American Cleanup as a national sponsor. Over the past four years, Lowe’s has supported Keep America Beautiful and its affiliates with more than $4 million in contributions and the support of Lowe’s Heroes employee volunteers. Since their partnership began, Lowe’s and Keep America Beautiful have brought together nearly 40,000 volunteers to support service projects benefiting communities across the country.

Keep America Beautiful is the nation’s leading nonprofit that brings people together to build and sustain vibrant communities. With our national network of community-based affiliates, we work with millions of volunteers who take action in their communities to transform public spaces into beautiful places. Through our programs and public-private partnerships, we engage individuals to take greater responsibility for improving their community’s environment.