Mayor Jerry Dyer today announced that his Beautify Fresno initiative has started a program to establish Beautify Fresno Clubs in schools across the city. The announcement was made at the start of Fresno Youth Service Day today, an event bringing over 20 groups with nearly 800 students K-12 within Fresno city limits to serve the community by participating in a cleanup or beautification project around their campuses.  

Students who organize a Beautify Fresno Club in their school are required to organize one cleanup or beautification event per semester and promote the event to students, teachers, and staff. In addition, each individual member is required to volunteer for a minimum of one scheduled Beautify Fresno event per semester. There is no age limit for club membership and grade schools, middle schools, and high schools within Fresno city limits can apply.

San Joaquin Memorial High School is the first school to establish a Beautify Fresno Club, and other clubs are already starting up in Fresno Unified, Clovis Unified, and Central Unified School Districts.

“Developing leadership opportunities for Fresno youth is one of my top priorities and I’m so pleased that students in schools across the city, both public and private, are raising their hands to take charge and create positive change in their community,” said Mayor Dyer.  “It’s critical for us to continue to offer chances for young people to step up and lead. The simple act of organizing a Beautify Fresno Club in their school shows us that student leaders are ready to work together as ‘One Fresno’ to help us become a city where everyone takes pride in their neighborhoods.”

As the lead sponsor for the club, Beautify Fresno agrees to provide all equipment and materials, including paper pickers, safety vests, gloves, trash bags and will provide a staff member to supervise events and attend any club meetings where information is needed. In addition, Beautify Fresno will provide educational materials on litter control, recycling, environmental stewardship, and the benefits of volunteerism.

Administrators, teachers and students who are interested in establishing a Beautify Fresno Club in their school should contact Mark Standriff, Director of Beautify Fresno at 559-621-8626 or email info@beautifyfresno.org.

Follow Beautify Fresno on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram: @beautifyfresno or visit our website www.beautifyfresno.org.