Foothills Academy volunteers picked up litter during the Dale Hollow Spring Cleanup, April 14, 2012

The PRIDE Volunteer of the Month Award for April 2012 was presented to Foothills Academy, which is a residential program for troubled boys from 13 to 18 years of age.

Foothills Academy, located in Albany, earned the award for its long-standing commitment to volunteering for local cleanup events. Students and staff members volunteer for the area’s annual events — such as the Friends of Lake Cumberland Cleanup, Dale Hollow Spring Cleanup and Grider Hill Dock Cleanup — as well as other cleanup projects, as needed.

“We want to thank these young men, as well as the Foothills Academy staff, for making the environment one of their priorities when serving the community,” said PRIDE’s Tammie Wilson, who presented the award during the volunteer appreciation picnic that followed the Dale Hollow Spring Cleanup on April 14.

“When a cleanup is being organized, we can count on Foothills to participate in a big way,” Wilson said. “They work hard, accomplish a lot, and seem to have a good time together.”

“Foothills students have earned a reputation for answering any call to volunteer, and the community has come to depend on their service,” Wilson added. “From setting-up at benefit concerts to installing nature trails, these young men show up to help. They’re a blessing.”

“We want to give something back to the community,” said Rick Thrasher, Director of Foothills Academy. “Our kids come from troubled backgrounds and may have caused some problems in the past, so volunteering gives them a chance to do something positive. It gives them a sense of self worth when they can help others.”

“The students enjoy volunteering, too,” Thrasher added. “They look forward to the cleanups.”

“They always comment on the amount and variety of trash they find, from billfolds to clothing,” Thrasher said. “At the Lake Cumberland Cleanup last year, our students were really excited to find a unique coin from the Dominican Republic, and it won the prize for the most unusual piece of trash.”

The PRIDE Volunteer of the Month program recognizes hard work and dedication to the PRIDE initiative, which promotes environmental education and cleanup efforts in 38 counties of southern and eastern Kentucky. With corporate sponsorship from TECO Coal, commercials about each PRIDE Volunteer of the Month are broadcast on WYMT-TV, which is the CBS affiliate in Hazard.

“Volunteers are the backbone of PRIDE,” said Congressman Hal Rogers, who co-founded PRIDE. “We wouldn’t be where we are without our volunteers. More than 360,000 volunteers have helped with PRIDE cleanup and education projects. We want to thank TECO Coal for helping PRIDE give these generous people the recognition they deserve.”

“Please tell us about PRIDE volunteers who impressed you because we want to thank them,” Wilson said. “You can call our office at 677-6150 or go online to submit a nomination for the PRIDE Volunteer of the Month Award.”

To submit a nomination, please click here.

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