Arizona Clean and Beautiful Gets a Fresh Start with New Project Coordinator 

Peoria, AZ, February 28, 2008 - Arizona Clean and Beautiful, a statewide non-profit organization dedicated to preserving, maintaining, and enhancing our state's beauty and environmental quality, has appointed a new Project Coordinator with hopes of revitalizing its valuable mission of environmental awareness and action. 

Mary Lynn Kelly has accepted the position of 2008 Project Coordinator for Arizona Clean and Beautiful.  Ms. Kelly, who also serves as Executive Director of the Challenger Space Center in Peoria, sees many similarities in the missions of the two organizations.  "At the Challenger Space Center, we have adopted the theme that Earth is our favorite planet.  We encourage citizens of all ages to learn more about the universe in which we live, and that begins with caring for the planet we call home."

Arizona Clean and Beautiful, founded in 1985, utilizes a network of volunteers throughout the state dedicated to improving the quality of life for all Arizona citizens through protecting and beautifying the environment.  Among the organization's many worthwhile programs is the popular Litter Hotline, which invites Arizona drivers to become part of the litter solution.  Motorists who see someone throwing litter from a vehicle may call the toll-free hotline 24 hours a day to report their observations.  Arizona Clean and Beautiful follows up with a letter informing the vehicle's owner that littering is against the law.  As an added touch, a car litter bag is included with each mailing.

The Litter Hotline is funded by the Arizona Department of Transportation and currently fields about 40 calls a day, no doubt representing a small portion of the total littering infractions that occur on Arizona roadways. 

Ms. Kelly will be working with Arizona Clean and Beautiful's Board of Directors, as well as its generous network of corporate sponsors, to expand existing programs and develop new ones throughout the coming year, building on a natural synergism with the Challenger Space Center.  "Earlier this year, APS provided funding for Challenger to start a Green Science Program, allowing us to incorporate cutting edge environmental science topics into existing Space Center programs and to create new ones.  Since APS and other Arizona utility companies have played an active role in Arizona Clean and Beautiful, there are many existing relationships that will be enhanced by this new association."

The Arizona Clean and Beautiful offices will now be located in-house at the Challenger Space Center in Peoria, which will serve as the central coordination point for the statewide network of ACB Affiliates.  The Affiliate Network is the cornerstone of Arizona Clean & Beautiful's efforts to maintain beauty standards throughout the state, serving as the voice of ACB and connecting various towns and cities to both the state and national programs.  Challenger's main phone number, 623-322-2020, is now the primary contact phone number for Arizona Clean and Beautiful. 

"I am very excited about the potential for growth for Arizona Clean and Beautiful in the coming year.  Visitors to the Challenger Space Center will be able to pick up litter bags here, and we hope to coordinate events such as an Earth Day celebration that will foster the missions of both agencies.  There will be many interactive opportunities for the public to learn more about our planet and how to take care of it."

Arizona Clean and Beautiful, founded in 1985, is a non-profit, volunteer-driven organization dedicated to preserving, maintaining, and enhancing the beauty and environmental quality of Arizona through research, education and the Arizona Affiliate Network.