This article, written by Executive Director Sue Hardin, appeared in a recent edition of the Illinois Business Journal.

Beautification Important to Community Success
There are several factors that determine a community’s potential for success. Most cities are interested in attracting new businesses and families, and make every effort to provide the amenities that are attractive to potential residents. 

A strong school district is one of the most important assets of any community. Access to good highways is another important element. However, one of the most critical strengths, and one that is often the most overlooked, is the appearance of the community. Visitors immediately make a judgment about the community based on their first impression.  Is the area litter-free?  Are the properties attractive and well maintained?  Is there an underlying sense of civic pride shining through?  Although these are intangible concepts, they are very real in the eyes of our visitors.

Thirty-nine years ago, Dr. Gordon Moore, an Alton physician and strong civic leader, recognized a need in his community for some “sprucing up.”  He contacted several colleagues and a Telegraph newspaper reporter, Jack Barban, to join him in addressing these concerns. The result was a local non-profit organization called Pride, Incorporated.

Pride, Inc. is dedicated to beautification in fourteen local communities.  Board members and volunteers have completed hundreds of beautification projects over the years that have significantly improved the quality of life for residents and visitors to those communities. Pride, Inc. has been successful because so many people support the work being done and appreciate the need for improvement through beautification.

The scope of the projects completed by Pride, Inc. volunteers is as varied as the communities in which they are accomplished.  A beautification project does not have to be enormous to make a difference. It can be as simple as landscaping a corner in a struggling neighborhood or as massive as constructing a new limestone “Welcome” sign at the entrance to a community.  The message is still the same: that the residents are proud of their community and they care about the appearance of their neighborhoods.

Pride, Incorporated is blessed to have a strong foundation of volunteers and financial supporters. The organization is funded exclusively through donations from individuals and businesses that support the mission of community beautification. Every penny donated to Pride, Inc. is returned to local communities. Hundreds of volunteers donate their time and talents to street tree programs, park improvement programs, and specific community beautification projects within business or residential neighborhoods. Personal participation in these projects creates a sense of ownership and promotes civic pride.  When the people of a community are able to take pride in its appearance, they also begin to show an active interest in other issues that improve their quality of life.

Every community has a potential beautification project waiting for attention.  One of the most exasperating problems is litter. No one likes to see it, and we all take notice when an area is litter-free. Pride, Incorporated, in partnership with several local municipalities, proudly administers the Adopt-a-Highway program.  Sponsored by the Illinois Department of Transportation, the program encourages groups, businesses, families, and individuals to adopt sections of area roadways. The adoptive sponsor will maintain that area and keep it as litter-free as possible. It is a daunting task, but one that has truly changed the complexion of many local highways. Litter is an ugly reminder that we all need to become more conscious of our surroundings and more responsible in our actions.

Pride, Inc. volunteers participate in a variety of beautification projects.  Many programs, such as the Bucket Brigade and the Student Pride program, have been ongoing for several years.  Each of these programs depends on the support of individuals, groups and businesses that are committed to the improvement of their community.  The Bucket Brigade will celebrate its eighteenth year of service in May, with volunteers having painted nearly 1,000 homes in local communities. 

The Student Pride program encourages participation of high school students in beautification projects. The students regularly pick up trash and litter along area roadways and have removed several tons of waste. They have also planted and maintained gardens within city parks.  However, one of the most significant benefits of Student Pride membership is that our children are learning the importance of civic pride and commitment to one’s community. 

 We are fortunate to live in such a beautiful part of the country. Sometimes we take for granted the many natural resources that make this area so attractive to new businesses, families and visitors. Maintaining the natural beauty of a community is a responsibility that should be shared by all. It should be taught within our families and supported throughout our neighborhoods.

 Many communities are beginning to recognize the importance of beautification and the impact it can have on all aspects of that community’s success. It is a modest investment that produces long-lasting and tangible rewards.