Grants aim to halt graffiti
The 2012 Graffiti Hurts Grant Program is accepting applications from local governments and other groups. The program, sponsored by Stamford, Conn.-based Keep America Beautiful (KAB), is designed to assist communities in augmenting their local graffiti prevention activities. KAB hopes that the grant initiative will serve as a catalyst to combat the economic and quality-of-life losses that result from graffiti vandalism.
Keep America Beautiful is offering six grants for the 2012 program: four cash grants of $2,500 each, two graffiti-resistant paint product grants from The Sherwin-Williams Company valued at $2,500 each, and one FlashCAM from Q-Star Technology, valued at $6,100.
“Preventing and abating graffiti vandalism helps to keep our cities and towns cleaner, safer and more livable,” said Keep America Beautiful president and CEO Matt McKenna. “Keep America Beautiful values our partnership with Sherwin-Williams for bringing needed resources to communities, raising awareness about the harmful effects of graffiti vandalism and activating proven prevention methods.”
Cleveland-based paint and coating manufacturer Sherwin-Williams is partnering with Keep America Beautiful to deliver the Graffiti Hurts program to organizations and communities in the U.S. “Recognizing the reality of local government’s budget constraints, Sherwin-Williams is pleased to offer these awards to help jump-start or continue their graffiti eradication efforts,” said Harvey Sass, president and general manager of Sherwin-Williams’ Diversified Brands Division.
Local governments, police departments, youth groups, downtown associations, crime prevention organizations, and other groups dedicated to eradicating graffiti vandalism are encouraged to apply. Businesses that make or operate graffiti-removal equipment or technologies are not eligible.
Proposed projects can address graffiti prevention and education, eradication, or enforcement of local anti-graffiti laws. Programs that focus on prevention initiatives, including Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED), and engaging and educating youth are encouraged.
The deadline for all applications is June 15, 2012. All interested communities and organizations should complete the online application. Grant winners will be announced by Sept. 12, 2012.
The following organizations were the recipients of the 2011 Graffiti Hurts Grant Program awards:
$2,500 cash grant recipients
- Casa Grande Police Department — Casa Grande, Ariz.
- Keep Victoria Beautiful — Victoria, Texas
- Boys & Girls Clubs of America of East County — Santee, Calif.
- Keep Manatee Beautiful — Bradenton, Fla.
$2,500 Sherwin-Williams paint supply certificate recipients
- Downtown Westfield Corporation — Westfield, N.J.
- Downtown Visalians — Visalia, Calif.
- Pittsburgh Downtown Partnership — Pittsburgh, Pa.
Q-Star FlashCAM recipient
- Tyler Against Graffiti — Tyler, Texas
KAB, established in 1953, is a volunteer-based community action and education organization, whose network of more than 1,200 affiliate and participating organizations forms public-private partnerships and programs that engage individuals to take greater responsibility for improving their community environments.
Graffiti Hurts is a community-based graffiti prevention program of KAB that provides resources to help communities assess the graffiti problem, initiate graffiti prevention activities, and educate youth and adults about the impact of graffiti vandalism on neighborhoods.
