Arbor Day Event Registration Details
Please register your local Arbor Day event information by Friday, January 9. Once you submit your information, you will receive a link to access this year’s promotional materials. We will share a complete list of statewide locations on the Keep Georgia Beautiful Foundation website starting on January 19.
Arbor Day Seedlings Request
The Georgia Forestry Commission (GFC) is offering in-kind tree seedlings for KGBF's Arbor Day events. The species that will be available in bundles of 50 each include Catalpa, White Oak, and Bald Cypress. All seedlings will be dug and delivered to local GFC offices for pickup in February based on your registration information and the schedule of the nursery.
Registration and requests for seedlings close on Friday, January 9, 2026.
Introduction
Each year, the Keep Georgia Beautiful Foundation recognizes individuals, groups, and organizations that exemplify efforts to protect our state’s environment through litter prevention, waste reduction, recycling, and beautification. This year's winner will receive notification of their award by Friday, March 6, and will be honored on the evening of Tuesday, May 5 at the Andaz Hotel in Savannah, Georgia.
Award Description
Named in honor of Georgia’s first affiliate leader, and someone who galvanized thousands of volunteers throughout her own career, the Carolyn Crayton Volunteer of the Year Award recognizes a passionate individual who has dedicated an extraordinary amount of time and effort to improving the local environment.
Eligibility Requirement
Volunteers who have dedicated an extraordinary amount of time and effort to improving the local environment are eligible to be nominated. A portion of the projects, programs, and/or achievements mentioned for this individual must have taken place between July 1, 2024 and June 30, 2025.
Deadline for nominations: Friday, January 30, 2026
All nominations must be completed in Submittable. Nominations submitted after January 30 will not be eligible.
Introduction
Each year, the Keep Georgia Beautiful Foundation recognizes individuals, groups, and organizations that exemplify efforts to protect our state’s environment through litter prevention, waste reduction, recycling, and beautification. This year's winner will receive notification of their award by Friday, March 6, and will be honored on the evening of Tuesday, May 5 at the Andaz Hotel in Savannah, Georgia.
Award Description
Named in honor of the founder of the Keep Georgia Beautiful Foundation, the Barbara Mason Executive Director of the Year Award recognizes an affiliate leader with a profound commitment to making our state cleaner, greener, and more beautiful. This person inspires others, implements innovative programming, and has an established record of creating lasting, positive change.
Eligibility Requirement
The nominee must have served in the role of executive director with a certified KAB affiliate for two years or longer. A portion of the projects, programs, and/or achievements mentioned for this individual must have also taken place between July 1, 2024 and June 30, 2025.
Deadline for nominations: Friday, January 30, 2026.
All nominations must be completed in Submittable. Nominations submitted after January 30 will not be eligible.
Introduction
Each year, the Keep Georgia Beautiful Foundation recognizes individuals, groups, and organizations that exemplify efforts to protect our state’s environment through litter prevention, waste reduction, recycling, and beautification. This year's winner will receive notification of their award by Friday, March 6, and will be honored on the evening of Tuesday, May 5 at the Andaz Hotel in Savannah, Georgia.
Award Description
Named in honor of a former executive director of the Keep Georgia Beautiful Foundation and a true champion of environmental education, the Lynn Cobb Student of the Year Award celebrates the achievements of an environmental steward between sixth and twelfth grade.
Eligibility Requirement
Students between sixth and twelfth grade are eligible to be nominated. A portion of the projects, programs, and/or achievements mentioned for this individual must have taken place between July 1, 2024 and June 30, 2025.
Deadline for nominations: Friday, January 30, 2026
All nominations must be completed in Submittable. Nominations submitted after January 30 will not be eligible.
Introduction
Each year, the Keep Georgia Beautiful Foundation recognizes individuals, groups, and organizations that exemplify efforts to protect our state’s environment through litter prevention, waste reduction, recycling, and beautification. This year's winner will receive notification of their award by Friday, March 6, and will be honored on the evening of Tuesday, May 5 at the Andaz Hotel in Savannah, Georgia.
Award Description
Named in honor of a former state senator who was instrumental in establishing the Keep Georgia Beautiful Foundation network, the Steve Reynolds Public Servant of the Year Award recognizes an elected official, law enforcement officer, code officer, or other government employee who has demonstrated an unwavering commitment to improving the environment.
Eligibility Requirement
Elected officials, law enforcement officers, code officers, or other government employees are eligible to be nominated. A portion of projects, programs, and/or achievements mentioned for this individual must have taken place between July 1, 2024 and June 30, 2025.
Deadline for nominations: Friday, January 30, 2026
All nominations must be completed in Submittable. Nominations submitted after January 30 will not be eligible.
Introduction
Each year, the Keep Georgia Beautiful Foundation recognizes individuals, groups, and organizations that exemplify efforts to protect our state’s environment through litter prevention, waste reduction, recycling, and beautification. This year's winners will receive notification of their award by Friday, March 6, and will be honored on the evening of Tuesday, May 5 at the Andaz Hotel in Savannah, Georgia.
Award Description
Our only category honoring two separate recipients, the Trailblazer of Tomorrow Award celebrates affiliates who use a creative approach when solving challenges, launching projects, or building new programs. One award will be given to an affiliate with a population of up to 100,000, while a second will be reserved for an affiliate with a population of 100,001 or higher.
Eligibility Requirement
The nominee must be a certified KAB affiliate and the programs and/or projects mentioned must have concluded between July 1, 2024 and June 30, 2025.
Deadline for nominations: Friday, January 30, 2026
All nominations must be completed in Submittable. Nominations submitted after January 30 will not be eligible.
Introduction
Each year, the Keep Georgia Beautiful Foundation recognizes individuals, groups, and organizations that exemplify efforts to protect our state’s environment through litter prevention, waste reduction, recycling, and beautification. This year's winner(s) will receive notification of their award by Friday, March 6, and will be honored on the evening of Tuesday, May 5 at the Andaz Hotel in Savannah, Georgia.
Award Description
The Community Catalyst Award highlights the efforts of a group or individual to foster outstanding collaborative leadership between neighbors, local businesses, and community organizations with the purpose of collectively improving the local environment.
Eligibility Requirement
Nonprofits, civic and community organizations, school and youth groups, local governments, businesses, and professional organizations are eligible to be nominated, as well as individual leaders within those groups. The programs and/or projects mentioned must have concluded between July 1, 2024 and June 30, 2025.
Deadline for nominations: Friday, January 30, 2026
All nominations must be completed in Submittable. Nominations submitted after January 30 will not be eligible.
Introduction
Each year, the Keep Georgia Beautiful Foundation recognizes individuals, groups, and organizations that exemplify efforts to protect our state’s environment through litter prevention, waste reduction, recycling, and beautification. This year's winners will receive notification of their award by Friday, March 6, and will be honored on the evening of Tuesday, May 5 at the Andaz Hotel in Savannah, Georgia.
Award Description
The Clean Community Champion Award honors the efforts of a group that strives to change the attitudes and behaviors toward litter in its community, through cleanups, educational workshops, promotional campaigns, or other preventative measures.
Eligibility Requirement
Nonprofits, civic and community organizations, school and youth groups, local governments, businesses, and professional organizations are eligible to be nominated. The programs and/or projects mentioned must have concluded between July 1, 2024 and June 30, 2025.
Deadline for nominations: Friday, January 30, 2026
All nominations must be completed in Submittable. Nominations submitted after January 30 will not be eligible.
Introduction
Each year, the Keep Georgia Beautiful Foundation recognizes individuals, groups, and organizations that exemplify efforts to protect our state’s environment through litter prevention, waste reduction, recycling, and beautification. This year's winners will receive notification of their award by Friday, March 6, and will be honored on the evening of Tuesday, May 5 at the Andaz Hotel in Savannah, Georgia.
Award Description
The Waste Reduction Warrior Award highlights the achievements of a group that has made significant strides in minimizing the impact of waste in its community through recycling, composting, or adaptive reuse projects
Eligibility Requirement
Nonprofits, civic and community organizations, school and youth groups, local governments, businesses, and professional organizations are eligible to be nominated. The programs and/or projects mentioned must have concluded between July 1, 2024 and June 30, 2025.
Deadline for nominations: Friday, January 30, 2026
All nominations must be completed in Submittable. Nominations submitted after January 30 will not be eligible.
Introduction
Each year, the Keep Georgia Beautiful Foundation recognizes individuals, groups, and organizations that exemplify efforts to protect our state’s environment through litter prevention, waste reduction, recycling, and beautification. This year's winners will receive notification of their award by Friday, March 6, and will be honored on the evening of Tuesday, May 5 at the Andaz Hotel in Savannah, Georgia.
Award Description
The Greenspace Guardian Award commends a group who has added vibrancy and resiliency to the local landscape through native plantings, pollinator habitats, urban forests, or placemaking.
Eligibility Requirement
Nonprofits, civic and community organizations, school and youth groups, local governments, businesses, and professional organizations are eligible to be nominated. The programs and/or projects mentioned must have concluded between July 1, 2024 and June 30, 2025.
Deadline for nominations: Friday, January 30, 2026
All nominations must be completed in Submittable. Nominations submitted after January 30 will not be eligible.
Registration Details
Thank you for participating in Keep America Beautiful's Greatest American Cleanup 2026 in Georgia! Depending upon sponsorship, KGBF will supply enhanced materials to help local affiliates and participating communities conduct cleanups this coming spring (March - June).
Please register your events and request support based on the available options provided by January 16, 2026. Beginning in late January, KGBF will contact you regarding your registration and requests. Planning resources and other promotional materials will also be made available on our website by the end of February.
Qualification Criteria
As part of our program wrap-up, reporting is due by June 26, 2026. Your report submitted by the deadline will ensure your continued eligibility in receiving future in-kind supplies and grant opportunities from KGBF.
If you did not report by the deadline for the 2025 GAC program report (due in June 2025), please note that you will be ineligible for supply support for the 2026 GAC program. Eligibility will resume for 2027.