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Support Sky Harbor Coalition Honored with Award for Volunteer Efforts

Over the past few months, the Support Sky Harbor Coalition, in partnership with the city of Phoenix Neighborhood Services Department, has organized cleanups. These events have brought more than 230 volunteers together to spruce up neighborhoods west of Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport. Projects have included vegetation, tire and debris removal.

The hard work of those involved in organizing the cleanups as well as the volunteers who have given their time to make these events so successful has not gone unnoticed. In fact, on June 15, the Support Sky Harbor Coalition was presented with the city of Phoenix Neighborhood Services Department External Partnership Award.

The award was for a successful partnership with the Neighborhood Services Department (NSD) and the city of Phoenix for the sponsorship of the NSD/Support Sky Harbor Coalition tool trailer. The Coalition took a worn-out trailer and refurbished it with new tires, safety jacks and lighting in addition to providing new tools and supplies.

This tool trailer has been made available not only for the Support Sky Harbor Coalition’s neighborhood cleanups, but has been crucial for other neighborhood revitalization projects such as Block Watch Group cleanups and graffiti paint-outs as part of the NSD’s Tool Lending Program. These might not have been possible without the new trailer, since tools and equipment are often difficult to find. More than 20 different community groups have used the trailer for projects so far. Support Sky Harbor’s goal in refurbishing the trailer was to provide useful tools to local neighborhoods and to make an investment in the community surrounding the Airport by giving time and talent.

Councilman Michael Johnson presented representatives from the Support Sky Harbor Coalition with the award.

“We are very pleased to receive the External Partnership Award,” said Mike Gausden, Support Sky Harbor Coalition Vice Chair who accepted the award on behalf of the Coalition. “The tool trailer and Coalition sponsored neighborhood cleanups would not have come to fruition and would not have been so successful without the time, talent and energies of our Coalition contributors, the community, the city of Phoenix Aviation Department and Neighborhood Services Department partners and volunteers."

Congratulations to the Support Sky Harbor Coalition on receiving this award. The next Support Sky Harbor Cleanup is scheduled for November 5.

First posted: 6/22/2011