As part of the Keep Maryland Beautiful Program, the Maryland Environmental Trust (MET) awarded $28,000 in grants to non-profit organizations and schools to support environmental education and demonstrative projects that will enhance and maintain the State’s health and appearance. MET announced the award and grant winners to a packed house during the annual Maryland Land Conservation Conference on May 15 in Columbia.

“MET is pleased to provide these annual grants, especially during these tough economic times, to encourage environmental programming and educational projects,” said Director Elizabeth Buxton.

This year’s Keep Maryland Beautiful Grants include:

The Margaret Rosch Jones Award is named in honor of the first executive director of the Keep Maryland Beautiful Program.

  • Award winners: The Greater Baltimore Urban League; Ann’s Circle; Historic East Baltimore Community Action Coalition; Baltimore Orchard Project; Greater Waldorf Jaycees Foundation; World Arts Focus; Friends of Patapsco Valley & Heritage Greenway; University of Maryland, College Park; Red Wiggler Community Farm; Normal, Inc.; Philips Wharf Environmental Center; and Friends of Martinak State Park.

The William (Bill) James Environmental Education Awards are given in memory of Senate President William S. James who drafted legislation creating MET and incorporated the activities of the Governor’s Committee to Keep Maryland Beautiful.

  • Award winners: The GreenMount School, Baltimore; Sligo Creek Elementary School PTA; Perryville High School; Silver Spring Day School; St. Mary’s Elementary School, Annapolis; Environmental Concerns, Inc.; the BishopWalsh School, Cumberland; and the Pine Grove Middle School, Parkville.   

The Jan Hollmann Grants are awarded to selected land trusts to support their land conservation, outreach and stewardship programs. The award is named in memory of Jan Hollmann who co-founded the Severn River Land Trust and the Arundel Conservation Trust, and served on the Severn River Commission.

  • The following land trusts received award: The Lower Shore Land Trust; Harford Land Trust; Patuxent Tidewater Land Trust; Baltimore Green Space; and NeighborSpace of Baltimore County, Inc.

The Aileen Hughes Award is given in the memory of Aileen Hughes, a leader in Maryland’s conservation movement. The award supports local land trust activities, including land conservation, outreach and stewardship efforts.
       ?    Rick Leader was selected to receive this award for his dedicated leadership as executive director of the Scenic Rivers Land Trust. The award money will fund ongoing work at Scenic Rivers.  

The Dillon Award is given to a landowner who exhibits outstanding conservation in honor of the spirit and legacy of the Dillon sisters of Garrett County who donated a conservation easement and then bequeathed their entire Garrett County property to MET in 1984.

  • Kent County resident, Louisa Duemling was presented with this award for her outstanding efforts in preserving the unique landscape of the Eastern Shore. In 2009, she donated a conservation easement to MET and the Eastern Shore Land Conservancy. The easement, MET’s largest, forever safeguards 1,087 acres of forest, 1,692 acres of tilled land and 50 acres of freshwater ponds. In addition, 9.2 miles of shoreline along the Chesapeake Bay, Churn Creek, Tims Creek, Worton Creek and Still Pond are protected. The property is also home to the D