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Who we areThe KDB family 4 Aimee BissettPresident’s Letter 5 Lancine BentleyKDB 101 6

KDB Programs: Then and nowKDB History 8 Great American Cleanup 10 Redbud Festival 12 Tree programs 14 Q & A: KDB’s beginnings 16 Cecile Carson

In our 25th yearBuilding our gardens 17 Christa CroweExpanding our reach 17 Jannibah Coleman

Money matters2012 operating budget 18Cost/benefit analysis 19

KDB communityOur volunteers 20Our sponsors 20Our members 21

CONTENTSyearbook

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The KDB FamilyAimee BissettDear KDB Friends and Family,

This has been a year of reflection for all of us at Keep Denton Beautiful. As we celebrate KDB’s 25th birthday, I can’t help but look back over the years of my involvement with this awesome organization. A few weeks ago, as we were preparing to host our Annual Tree GiveAway, it occurred to me that this would be my seventh year to help with this event. My youngest daughter Gracie turned seven this year also – she has been a KDB volunteer her entire life! As I look back over the history of this organization and think about what makes KDB so special, one word comes to mind: family. All of you, through your years of supporting our mission, have become a part of the KDB family.

One volunteer recently wrote a letter to tell me that she has been cleaning up her Adopt a Spot now for over 20 years! What’s more, her son recently adopted a new spot in Denton as well. We have volunteers who bring their parents and their children out to help at Great American Cleanup – three generations working together to keep Denton beautiful. Staff members and volunteers have come and gone over the years, but even those who have moved away are still a part of the family. Many KDB volunteers have developed friendships that will last a lifetime. I know I certainly have.

When I began working with KDB in 2006, my motivation was simple. I want my children to grow up in a community that is safe, healthy, and beautiful. I know all of you want the same thing for your families, and that is why you come back to help us year after year. You make Denton cleaner, greener, and more beautiful. I am looking forward to the next 25 years with my KDB family!

Sincerely,

Aimee BissettProgram Manager

Aimee’s daughter Gracie (age 3) at the 2008 Redbud Festival with

Board President, Lancine Bentley

Aimee with daughters Taylor and Gracie at Stream Clean in 2011

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The KDB FamilyAimee Bissett

25 Years and Beyond Lancine Bentley

Dear KDB Friends,

Keep Denton Beautiful is celebrating its 25th anniversary as a grassroots, volunteer-driven community improvement organization. I am lucky to have been a part of this organization for the past 13 ½ years, first employed as its Program Manager and now as a volunteer…and it has been wonderful! I have met many exceptional people and count several members of the KDB family among my closest friends.

I have had the pleasure of being involved with KDB’s many programs and events over the years--Great American Clean Up, Stream Clean, the Adopt-A-Spot, Tree GiveAway, Children’s Arbor Day, NeighborWoods, WaterSmart gardens, and the Environmental Education Grants Program.

At this time, we are in the process of working a really wonderful project (The Fry Street Initiative), which is going to improve the function and aesthetics of the Fry Street area. KDB is facilitating and participating in this collaboration which includes the Fry Street area merchants, Solid Waste, Engineering, Streets, and Parks and Recreation to improve the streets, sewer lines, and sidewalks on Fry Street from Avenue A to Mulberry; and to relocate dumpsters, place recycling containers, and add landscaping and bike racks at the intersection of Fry Street and Avenue A.

My hope for Denton and KDB’s next 25 years is that this wonderful collaboration signals the beginning of many cooperative efforts to improve the livability and beauty of this great city!

So, come join other Denton-loving people and let’s work together to make and keep Denton beautiful!

Sincerely,

Lancine BentleyPresident, Board of Directors

Lancine Bentley, Aimee Bissett, Lauren Barker, Nicole Vance and Caitlin Coyner at the 2009 Redbud Festival.

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our missionTo inspire individuals to take greater responsibility for creating a clean and beautiful city through litter prevention, reduction of waste, and community beautification.

our visionTo be a catalyst for positive change by providing opportunities, resources, education, and support to residents and businesses to enhance the community.

KDB 101

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KDB 101STAFF

BOARD

From left to right: Lauren Barker, Volunteer Coordinator; Aimee Bissett, Program Manager and

Jannibah Coleman, Outreach Coordinator

Katherine BarnettLancine BentleyAlethia Carmans*Christa CroweLisa Elser*Jean GreenlawJan HillmanRichard HuckabyLindsay Satterwhite-PrestonAlicia Taylor*Phillip Vivar*

*indicates former board member

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HISTORY

1989 2000

KDB became a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization!

2006

The Project Post Oak and Denia native gardens were installed. Now, we host regular work days and engage hundreds of volunteers every year in their upkeep.

2012

25 years strong, KDB continues to serve the needs of the community by improving existing programs and developing new ones. It will be exciting to see what the next 25 years bring!

1994

Keep Denton Beautiful resurrected the Denton Redbud Festival. Prior to that, Texas State College held the Redbud Festival, an event they hosted from 1939 to 1981.

1987 1998 2008

The City of Denton received the Tree City USA designation via KDB.

2001

Keep Denton Beautiful hosted the first Community Tree GiveAway event.

City Council signed a resolution creating a Blue Ribbon Citizen’s Task Force for beautification of major city entrances and other city beautification efforts. That task force eventually became Keep Denton Beautiful!

KDB teamed up with the Texas Department of Transportation to make the Adopt-a-Highway program available in the Denton area. That initiative was the predecessor to our existing Adopt-a-Spot program!

KDB won the Governor’s Community Achievement Award for the fifth time! KDB also received the GCAA in 1990, 1993, 1997 and 2003.

The first ever Great American Cleanup was held this year.

Environmental Education Grants were awarded for the first time this year! Since then, KDB has allocated over $22,000 to Denton schools for mission- oriented projects.

1990 1992

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1989 2000

KDB became a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization!

2006

The Project Post Oak and Denia native gardens were installed. Now, we host regular work days and engage hundreds of volunteers every year in their upkeep.

2012

25 years strong, KDB continues to serve the needs of the community by improving existing programs and developing new ones. It will be exciting to see what the next 25 years bring!

1994

Keep Denton Beautiful resurrected the Denton Redbud Festival. Prior to that, Texas State College held the Redbud Festival, an event they hosted from 1939 to 1981.

1987 1998 2008

The City of Denton received the Tree City USA designation via KDB.

2001

Keep Denton Beautiful hosted the first Community Tree GiveAway event.

City Council signed a resolution creating a Blue Ribbon Citizen’s Task Force for beautification of major city entrances and other city beautification efforts. That task force eventually became Keep Denton Beautiful!

KDB teamed up with the Texas Department of Transportation to make the Adopt-a-Highway program available in the Denton area. That initiative was the predecessor to our existing Adopt-a-Spot program!

KDB won the Governor’s Community Achievement Award for the fifth time! KDB also received the GCAA in 1990, 1993, 1997 and 2003.

The first ever Great American Cleanup was held this year.

Environmental Education Grants were awarded for the first time this year! Since then, KDB has allocated over $22,000 to Denton schools for mission- oriented projects.

1990 1992

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GREAT AMERICAN CLEANUP

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THEN Great American Cleanup (GAC) began in 1989 in conjunction with a public relations campaign intended to increase awareness of the City of Denton’s Beautification Committee and garner support for their pending affiliation with Keep America Beautiful (KAB). The original event was not the large one-day citywide cleanup it is today. Instead, GAC was comprised of one larger cleanup and several small group efforts that continued throughout the year. The first GAC had 200 student volun-teers.

NOW Since the first cleanup events were held, the Great American Cleanup has gone on to become one of KDB’s biggest and most recognized annual events. Hundreds of participants – including volunteers from local civic groups, fraternities and sororities, schools, Boy and Girl Scout groups, and even the Denton City Council – take part in the cleanup each year, making this the largest volunteer cleanup that occurs in Denton. During its 23 year history in the Denton community, the Great American Cleanup has resulted in the removal of an estimated 2 million pounds of litter from our city’s streets, drainage ditches, and neighborhoods - all through the efforts of local volunteers.

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Redbudthen

The Denton Redbud Festival dates back to the 1930s. The Texas State College for Women (now known as the Texas Women’s University) implemented a campus beautification program that called for transplanting more than 2,000 Redbud trees throughout the campus.

In 1939, Texas State College hosted its first Redbud Festival, a week-long event that became the highlight of the spring semester each year. Texas State College’s Redbud Festival tradition officially ended in 1981.

The Festival was given new life in 1994, after KDB and former Mayor Bob Castlebury requested of the 73rd Texas State Legislature that Denton be named the “Redbud Capital of Texas.” Known initially as “Redbud Days,” the event was hosted by KDB at the Civic Center to commemorate Denton’s “Redbud Capital” designation. Redbud seedlings were made available to festival attendees, and the event continued to grow each year. The “Redbud Romp” 5K race was added to the event to help boost attendance, and helped kick off the festival each year until this portion of the event was retired in 2008.

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edbud Festivalnow+

In 2001, the festival was renamed the “Denton Redbud Festival” and began to increasingly resemble the event it is today. In addition to being a celebration of Denton’s status as the Redbud Capital of Texas, the event now also serves as the City of Denton’s official Arbor Day Event. The 2012 Redbud Festival featured a home and garden show with more than 50 vendors, around 75 volunteers, and live music. Festival attendance is estimated at between 5,000 and 7,000 people each year.

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+kdb

treesTree GiveAway

The Tree GiveAway Event has been held by KDB since 1999, when approximately 2,000 trees were given away to Denton residents at the Denton Water Reclamation Plant. The event began as part of a “Make a Difference Day” cleanup, and has continued to grow and become one of KDB’s most well-known community events.

Now, KDB distributes

1,000 trees annually with the help of dozens of

volunteers. Tree recipients are encouraged to track the

growth of their tree and share pictures and status reports

with KDB.

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NeighborWoodsThe NeighborWoods Program is one of KDB’s tree-planting programs - and part of a national effort through an organization called the Alliance for Community Trees (ACT). Initiated in 2001 in Denton, the NeighborWoods Program seeks to restore tree canopy in urban areas by providing free trees and tree-planting resources for applying neighborhood groups.

NeighborWoods was, and is, funded by City of Denton utility customers who elected to contribute to the City “Tree Conservation Fund” via their monthly bill. In its first year, the program helped residents of Southeast Denton plant 100 Live Oak and Burr Oak trees in their neighborhood. The number of trees distributed grew to 200 the following year.

Children’s Arbor DayChildren’s Arbor Day (CAD) is an annual, community-wide program operated in partnership with the Denton County Master Gardeners Association. Through CAD, KDB distributes Redbud tree seedlings to third grade students in public and private schools in Denton Independent School District. The program celebrates National Arbor Day, and honors Denton’s status as the Redbud Capital of Texas.

The first Children’s Arbor Day event was held by KDB in 1997. Since then, the program has provided hundreds of Redbud seedlings to Denton children, helping them to learn first-hand about the

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Q&A KDB’s Beginnings: Ceci le Carson

In o

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.. Tell us about the early days; how was the transition made from task force to non-profit? The task force was charged with writing a landscape and sign code, improving code enforcement and enhancing the entranceways. Initially, Mayor Stephens told the task force to meet a few times and make a recommendation to City Council. After the second or third meeting, it became clear to our task leaders Jeanie Morrison and John Cooper that these tasks would need the support of a citizen’s group. Following some discussion, the City Council agreed a Commission was needed. The Commission was involved in winning the first Governor’s Community Achievement Award and the affiliation with Keep America Beautiful. Eventually, to move funding out of City accounts and to more effectively fundraise, the board decided that a 501 (c)(3) was needed.

What was Denton like then? Please tell us about the reception KDB efforts received? The reception was popular for the volunteer activities but not so much so for the ordinances- sign and landscape/tree preservation. Representatives from business and civic groups made a difference in ensuring that both passed. The task force which became the Denton Beautification Commission, and later the non-profit board, had home builders, landscapers, historians, garden club members and long-time community leaders.

Can an organization like KDB survive without the support of the community? No, and it must be a cross-section of the community. If we had continued with the government staff only, I don’t think the strides that you see today in Denton would have happened. When you looked at the first members of the commission/board, they were community advocates. It took all of us to make Denton look better, be stronger economically and enhance the quality of life.

What do you remember about KDB volunteers? Incredibly generous. People would ask what more could they do.

What is your favorite KDB memory? The people. I was blessed to work with amazing community leaders: Jennie Morrison, Tom Harpool, John Cooper, great City staff that embraced the programs and volunteered, and dedicated business leaders like Gene Gumfory that came out at Sonic and handed out free hamburger coupons- just to name a few.

What are you doing now?I am the Senior Director of Affiliate Development for Keep America Beautiful. Denton has an amazing story of transformation and I get to share it with communities all across the country!

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Expanding Our ReachJannibah ColemanBeautiful People, the new membership level for young professionals, is off to a great start. These members, like all members, make a financial gift to KDB. They are also charged with being ambassadors for KDB. In return, they are experiencing great social networking and educational opportunities. Thus far, the group has hosted several fun events. For example, in April,

members visited Cardo’s Farm Cooperative for a fascinating tour. It was an outing to engage all senses- from viewing the vast acreage to tasting the sprouts on their way to market. Beautiful People also met at a local winery for a sustainability lecture, joined for a mission-related film at the Thin Line Film Festival and learned how to make rain barrels.

Building Our GardensChrista CroweOver the past 25 years Keep Denton Beautiful has promoted community beautification by encouraging sustainable gardening in public and private landscapes. Thousands of volunteers have lent a hand across the years, primarily on our two demonstration gardens: Project Post Oak, and the Denia Water Smart Garden and Wildflower Meadow. Volunteers of all ages donate their time and labor to realizing a vision of sustainable gardens that celebrate

Denton’s natural beauty. Volunteers are never simply asked to pull weeds, but educated about native plants, Denton’s unique ecological profile, sustainable garden techniques, and how they might apply their new knowledge and skills in their own backyards. Our longtime sponsors, partners, and local landowners have also contributed to the success of the gardens by funding our activities, sending volunteers our way, and sourcing plants and local seed. Each year for our gardens brings new successes and new challenges. Both of our demonstration gardens have survived and thrived despite extreme drought, deep freezes, and sometimes too enthusiastic weeding. The Denia Water Smart Garden and Wildflower Meadow delivers year round color and interest with its sun-friendly plantings. Project Post Oak, the result of a public-private partnership with Wal-Mart on Loop 288, has changed from a native Texas shade demonstration garden to a post oak understory restoration garden. Victims of our own success, the tree canopy of already mature post oaks expanded such that we had to replace half the plantings!

P.S. Do you have plans on Saturday? Who’s bringing the mulch?

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IncomeEvent & Program Sponsors $36,000.00 Membership Dues $5,625.00 Donations $9,950.00 Grant & Foundation Income $30,000.00 Existing Funds $20,575.00 Special Event Income $5,500.00 Interest Earned $100.00 TOTAL INCOME $97,750.00

ExpensesManagement Expenses $6,655.30 Litter Prevention/Reduction Programs $8,300.00 Beautification Programs $46,700.00 Waste Reduction Programs $9,875.00 Education Grants $2,700.00 Volunteer Management/Supplies $4,750.00 Community Outreach $7,300.00 Fundraising ` $2,775.00 Misc. Expenses $600.00 TOTAL EXPENSES $89,655.30

2012 Adopted Operating Budget+investment

Cost/Benefit Analysis

return on investment- 386%

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+ returnCity

Contribution$368,076

Community Contribution

$97,750

In-kindContribution

$72,500

Community Benefit

$1,398,790

Cost Reduction$176,000

Volunteer Contribution

$371,174

Beautification $627,552

Clean up Projects$283,270 Tree Planting

$116,794

Cost/Benefit Analysis

return on investment- 386%

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Sponsors

kdb community

2011 Volunteer Award WinnersLindsay Satterwhite-Preston

Littie Grooms Volunteer of the Year

Brian Daskam Savannah Boyd Outstanding Service Outstanding Service

Beta Alpha Psi SGI BuddhistsOutstanding Service Outstanding Adopt-a-Spot

City of Denton Solid Waste and Recycling Outstanding City Partner

35 DentonAngel Scent Massage Therapy, Colleen MitchellBriscoe Alignment and TireCellar 22City of Denton Parks and Recreation DepartmentCity of Denton SustainabilityClear Creek Natural Heritage CenterCoy Green AudioDennis’ Farm StoreDenton Juice Co.Denton Municipal ElectricDenton Solid Waste and Recycling DepartmentDenton Vegan Cooperative

Fulton Supply and RecyclingFuzzy’s Taco ShopHuffines SubaruLowe’s Home ImprovementMcAlister’s DeliNorthstar BankPurlSnapShirtsRiprock’s Rooster’s RoadhouseSleepin-Dogs.com Website DesignsSquare 205The Denton Record-ChronicleTop That! PizzaTroybiltZombie’s Food Truck

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Sponsors

kdb community

MembersPhilip A. BakerCynthia BeardKristi and Robert BellLancine BentleyMaia & Rudolph BischofJustice BoatengJason BodorJim BrooksGeorgianne BurlageGay Lynn BynumDrew ChristAlma ClarkBarbara CokerBarney CosimoChrista Crowe Christina and Ben DearmanJan & Ken DicksonLisa ElserGayle FlippinAllison GilmerAlice GoreBetty GoreJean GreenlawAmy HartTrish and Alan HermelyAllison HighMargaret Welch HighJan HillmanVictoria HodgeRichard HuckabySonia IwanekEric IzouraDianne and Daniel JansingJeffrey JohnsonKandace JohnsonJeff JohnsonDonald KennedyDon KenneyPeg & Tom LaPointJennifer Lane

Patricia & Donald LangaMarti LathropKenneth LeathersRebecca LovellAlyson & Victor LozadaMisheka LumsdenPamela McElhinneyMolly McGuirkShelly & David McNabbMarie MilleagePatricia and Robert MillerNona Elaine MunciePhyllis Pearon MintonBarbara PhilipsBenjamin PoushLindsay & Matt PrestonJennifer ReyesKaty RileyCarrie RouxJulie ScharnbergDonna ShahanAlexandria SilvaDavid SmithJames G. SmithCaitlin SommersKathryn StachitusBill StewartAlicia TaylorVerone and Steve TravisNeena WengKatherine Barnett & Rusty WhiteJohn Williams

Cool BeansGreenhouse RestaurantLucky Lou’sMichael Lindley HairPainted Flower FarmRiprock’s Rose CostumesWood, Thacker and Weatherly, P.C.

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CONTRIBUTORS: Cover design: Taylor SheppardEditor: Jannibah ColemanContributors: Lauren Barker, Lancine Bentley, Aimee Bissett, Cecile Carson, Jannibah Coleman, Christa Crowe, Margaret Humphrey, Kristopher PhillipsProfessional photography: Savannah Boyd, Aubrey Salsman

For more information, contact:

KEEP DENTON BEAUTIFUL1117 Riney RoadDenton, TX 76207(940) 349-8737www.kdb.org