PRIDE unveils Spring Cleanup T-shirts, designed by Whitley City Elementary 3rd-grader

WHITLEY CITY, KY — Casey Joe Stephens, a third-grade student at Whitley City Elementary School, was surprised today to learn he won a region-wide contest to design the 2013 PRIDE Spring Cleanup T-shirt — which will be given to thousands of volunteers across 42 counties of southern and easternKentucky in April.

Stephens, who is eight years old, is the son of Brad and Jo Jo Stephens, and he is brother to Bradley, George Riley and Josie.

Stephens’ design featured the PRIDE mascot, J. Waterford the frog, as a boxer, with the slogan, “Be a PRIDE Champion: Knock Out Litter.” A graphic artist adapted Stephens’ artwork into a computer generated image to be printed on thousands of T-shirts.

Congressman Hal Rogers (KY-5), who co-founded PRIDE, announced that Stephens won the contest during a school-wide pep rally. Rogers presented Stephens with his original artwork, which had been framed, and one of the 2013 Spring Cleanup T-shirts. Rogers gave Stephens the PRIDE Volunteer of the Month Award for his contribution to recruiting Spring Cleanup volunteers.

“I want to congratulate Casey on winning this very competitive contest,” Rogers said. “PRIDE received 1,525 contest entries from students across our region. I am very impressed by such an enthusiastic response to the contest. I applaud all the students who put their creativity and talent to work for such a good cause.”

“In our region, we have made a tradition of winning big as PRIDE volunteers," Rogers continued. “We ‘knock out litter’ during PRIDE Spring Cleanup Month every April so it doesn’t stand in the way of enjoying our beautiful landscape or attracting tourists. Just last year, nearly 27,000 Spring Cleanup volunteers eliminated more than 50,000 bags of trash from our ditches and shorelines in one month. I invite everyone to join the Spring Cleanup tradition this April.”

In addition to Rogers, speakers at the ceremony will include McCreary County Judge-Executive Doug Stephens, Superintendent Donnie Wright and Principal Forest Jones.

“Casey is a fun loving, happy boy,” Jones said. “Art is one of his favorite classes because he enjoys drawing and making things. He likes school, especially because he enjoys seeing his friends every day.”

Jones said that math and PE are Stephens’ other favorite subjects. He enjoys spending time with his family, especially when they attend University ofKentucky football games. His hobbies include Legos, swimming, camping, basketball and soccer.

During PRIDE Spring Cleanup Month in April, communities will recruit volunteers to pick up litter. PRIDE will provide free T-shirts, trash bags and gloves for the volunteers, as well as funding for local governments to dispose of litter, remove dumps and offer free trash drop-off events.

On April 13, one of the most popular Spring Cleanup events will be held at Cumberland Falls State Resort Park. Volunteers who pick up roadside litter near the park will receive a free PRIDE T-shirt, lunch and chance at door prizes. The two-hour cleanup will begin at 10 a.m., with volunteer registration opening at 9 a.m. at the gift shop. Last year, the event drew 510 volunteers.

The 2013 PRIDE Spring Cleanup is made possible in part by a grant from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and the following sponsors: Waste Connections of Kentucky (Gold Sponsor), Outdoor Venture Corporation (Silver Sponsor), Walmart (Silver Sponsor), Hacker Brothers, Inc. (Bronze Sponsor), Lightyear Network Solutions (Bronze Sponsor) and Owens Auto & Truck Parts (Bronze Sponsor).

To volunteer for the Spring Cleanup, call the PRIDE office, toll-free number, at 888-577-4339. The PRIDE web site is www.kypride.org.

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