As I Love A Clean San Diego celebrates its 60th year, we are prompted top look back on our history and the people that carried us to success. The strength of our organization today is due to the efforts of many individuals, corporations and government entities who believed in a Clean San Diego!
Below are the 60th Anniversary Clean San Diego honorees, award winners and finalists, who were honored at our 60th Anniversary Celebration on Thursday May 29th.
ILACSD AMBASSADOR AWARD
Former staff and board members that continued their involvement. These alumni represent ILACSD in the community and help to spread the word about the importance of ILACSD’s work.
Cynthia Mallett: Cynthia started at ILACSD fresh out of college, first as an intern then as staff member on the education team, and now at the City of Oceanside’s Clean Water Program. She has stayed connected as a donor, program partner, and volunteer ever since, leading Oceanside beaches and creeks as a site captain for Creek to Bay and Coastal Cleanup Day for over 20 years. Cynthia also championed the Cigarette Litter Prevention Program for the City of Oceanside in collaboration with ILACSD.
Finalists: Joyce Coffee, Lana Findlay
LIFETIME VOLUNTEER ACHIEVEMENT AWARD
Long-standing volunteers that have served in a leadership position for over a decade, acting as a community catalyst who has taken ownership of an outdoor area in San Diego County and invested time and energy to protect and enhance it with ILACSD.
Linda Pennington: Linda has been volunteering with ILACSD for several decades, inspiring community volunteerism and pride in her City Heights neighborhood. Linda recruits site captains and volunteers by inspiring others to take ownership of their local canyons. She has helped to enlist dozens of Creek to Bay and Coastal Cleanup Day site captains for this underserved area.
Finalists: Jane Donley, Barbara Cleves
CLEAN SAN DIEGO HONOREES
These honorees lead by example through environmental innovation that promotes ILACSD’s mission and benefits the region.
San Diego County Supervisor Greg Cox: Supervisor Cox has been a dedicated supporter of ILACSD for more than 15 years. He was recently appointed as a commissioner on the California Coastal Commission, whose Public Education programs include ILACSD’s annual Coastal Cleanup Day, Kids’ Ocean Day and the year-round Adopt-A-Beach program.
County of San Diego: The County Board of Supervisors was instrumental in the formation of the War Against Litter Committee in 1954, which later evolved into I Love A Clean San Diego. Currently, the County of San Diego funds ILACSD programs, including WasteFreeSD.org and the organizations recycling call center, 1-877-R-1-EARTH.
City of San Diego: The City of San Diego was also instrumental in the formation of the War Against Litter Committee in 1954, which evolved into ILACSD. The City and ILACSD have collaborated for decades and currently partner on High School environmental education, community outreach, cleanups, and pollution prevention campaigns.
City of Chula Vista: The City of Chula Vista has worked with ILACSD on multiple programs since 1999, including cleanups, education, used motor oil recycling, and after school programs. Chula Vista and ILACSD have collaborated on progressive environmental programming & lead regional initiatives encouraging collaboration with other San Diego cities.
EMPLOYEE VOLUNTEERISM AWARDS
Local companies with strong employee volunteer engagement. Winners and finalists were chosen in 3 groups based on employee presence in San Diego.
D-Max Engineering: D-Max Engineering has collaborated with ILACSD for a decade, through its Storm Drain Stenciling program, and countywide cleanup events Creek to Bay and Coastal Cleanup Day. D-Max Engineering employees participate in countywide events annually, and also lead as site captains at underserved locations.
Finalists: RECON Environmental, McKenna Long & Aldridge
Harrah’s Resort Southern California: Employees from Harrah’s Resort have participated in our Adopt-A-Beach program at Bucanneer Beach in Oceanside for more than 5 years. Additionally, they have served as site captains of both their Bucanneer Beach location and a handful of inland sites, including Dixon Lake and Lake Wohlford for Creek to Bay and Coastal Cleanup Day.
Finalists: Cubic, Recreational Equipment Inc (REI)
General Dynamics, NASSCO: NASSCO employees have volunteered with ILACSD since the 1970’s, serving as one of the organization’s longest standing partners. Volunteers from NASSCO host clean ups along Chollas Creek annually, emphasizing the importance of cleaning up locally by literally cleaning up their own backyard, as Chollas Creek empties into the San Diego Bay near their shipyard.
Finalists: San Diego Gas & Electric, Qualcomm
OUTSTANDING CORPORATE PARTNER AWARD
Corporate partnership with long-term collaborations through volunteerism and program support.
San Diego Gas & Electric: SDG&E has supported ILACSD’s education and cleanups programs for decades. Employees also lead beautification projects during Coastal Cleanup Day, and represent the largest volunteer group countywide.
Finalists: Republic Services, SeaWorld San Diego
CLEAN SAN DIEGO ALLY AWARD
Fellow nonprofit organizations with longstanding partnerships with ILACSD and a history of strong collaboration.
Girl Scouts San Diego: The Girl Scouts have partnered with ILACSD since the 1960’s, providing scouts to spread awareness of pollution prevention issues. Thousands of scouts participate in ILACSD cleanup programs annually including Creek to Bay, Coastal Cleanup Day, and Adopt A Beach, earning patches for their service. ILACSD was proud to be a signature partner as the Girl Scouts celebrated their 100th anniversary recently.
YOUTH LEADERSHIP AWARD
Young environmental steward who is involved with ILACSD through various community leadership activities.
Aubrey Arevalo: Aubrey is a member of the Think Blue Brigade, and has worked to establish an environmental club at her University City High School campus. Through the Brigade, Aubrey has participated in numerous environmental events including Storm Drain Stenciling Day and Creek to Bay, recruiting classmates to participate. She has also created and led two storm drain stenciling days on her campus, and served as a Creek to Bay site captain at Crown Point Shores.
