OAK RIDGE, Tenn. ( WATE ) — A nonprofit group dedicated to cleaning the Tennessee River received their largest ever private contribution on Friday.
Keep the Tennessee River Beautiful (KTNRB) received a $79,200 donation from Oak Ridge Power Squadron, a nonprofit educational organization focused on water safety, at a ceremony at Melton Hill Lake
“KTNRB has already had over 4,000 volunteers, who have removed 633,000 pounds of trash from the river and surrounding areas,” KTNRB Executive Director Kathleen Gibi said. “We are proud of that milestone.”
Gibi said they’re the first affiliate of Keep America Beautiful focused solely on a river.
From Kentucky to Mississippi: cleanups working to remove 1,000s lbs. of trash from TN River
ORPS is an organization associated with America’s Boating Club , which has focused on boating education and safety programs since 1947.
“The Tennessee River is the most biodiverse river system in North America. It just goes to show that it’s not just the impact of removing trash from the river; it’s that awareness is getting created and increasing the passion for our river. There’s a ripple effect.” Gibi said.