FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Diane C. Birdwell @512-478-8813
Thursday, July 26, 2001

KEEP TEXAS BEAUTIFUL ANNOUNCES KROGER ENVIRONMENTAL EXCELLENCE WINNERS
Kroger funds environmental project in Plano!

Austin, Texas - Who Keeps Texas Beautiful? Kroger and Plano do. As one of the nation's largest grocery retailers, Kroger recently joined with Keep Texas Beautiful to award funding to eight Texas communities for environmental programs. The scholarships were awarded in conjunction with Kroger's national sponsorship of Keep America Beautiful's Great American Cleanup.

Keep Plano Beautiful is one of the winning Kroger communities. The $500 scholarship will be used to fund the creation of a puppet show featuring Luey the Litterbug and his friend Flo Flower. The characters will creatively address the importance of not littering and what recycling means. The puppet show will be presented to youth at the various Plano city parks, pre-schools and elementary schools.

"This was a wonderful opportunity for us to pass along funding to the more than 300 Keep Texas Beautiful community affiliates," said Bill Rogers, President of Keep Texas Beautiful. "Kroger not only stepped up to the plate on a national level, but made a wonderful commitment to Texas. It's obvious Kroger has a vested interest in environmental issues."

Keep Texas Beautiful, the nonprofit state affiliate of Keep America Beautiful, strives to empower Texans through education to take responsibility for enhancing their community's environment. KTB works with volunteers, elected officials, businesses and state and federal agencies to ensure that every Texan has the opportunity to take individual responsibility for making Texas the cleanest, most beautiful state in the nation. For more information on programs and events, call 1-800-CLEAN-TX