Project LIFT among agencies honored by Keep Martin Beautiful

Project LIFT was honored recently with an Environmental Stewardship Award from Keep Martin Beautiful for its Vehicle Repair Program.

Project LIFT’s Vehicle Repair Program gives teenagers an opportunity to give back to their community while learning a skilled trade. So far, those teens have recycled 156 donated vehicles that have been given to families in need.

The program gives teens the opportunity to give back to their community while learning a skilled trade. So far, it has resulted in the organization being able to recycle 156 donated vehicles and give them to families in need.

“As one of the first organizations to provide funding for this program, United Way is proud of Project LIFT’s tremendous growth and the life-changing work they do for our teens and our community,” United Way of Martin County posted on its Facebook page recently.

From left: Project LIFT CEO Bob Zaccheo, Project LIFT Chief Impact Officer Lauren Adrian, United Way of Martin County President/CEO Carol G. Houwaart-Diez and United Way of Martin County Impact Coordinator Sara Aviles. Project LIFT was honored recently with an Environmental Stewardship Award from Keep Martin Beautiful for its Vehicle Repair Program.

The complete list of winners from the 2022 Environmental Steward Awards includes:

• Community Cleanup Award – Live.Love.Local. Hobe Sound Cleanup;
• Community Enrichment Award – Jensen Beach Garden Club;
• Community Impact Award – Paula Smith, Indiantown Garden;
• Community Improvement Award – City of Stuart, Shepard Park;
• Community Revitalization Award – Martin County Board of County Commissioners, Hobe Sound Scrub Preserve;
• Conservation Steward Award – Loxa-Lucie Headwaters Initiative;
• Environmental Education Award – Florida Oceanographic Society, Ocean EcoCenter;
• Innovation Award – House of Hope, Traveling Nutrition Education Garden;
• President’s Award – Students4H2O & Martin County, School District;
• Remarkable Recycler Award – Project LIFT;
• Riley Jackson Award – Kathy Fitzpatrick;
• Trailblazer Award – Maggy Hurchalla;
• Youth Engagement Award – Jackie Brownie;
• Youth Group Champion Award – River Kidz; and
• Youth Impact Award – The Pine School.

“Each year we continue to be impressed by the creative and impactful ways our nominees show their commitment to and stewardship of our natural environment,” said Craig Ahal, president of Keep Martin Beautiful. “Their projects and initiatives give us great hope for the future of Martin County and our planet.”