About PRIDE
Personal responsibility, regional impact
Eastern Kentucky has majestic natural beauty – lakes, ancient forests, mist-shrouded mountains, and soaring cliffs. In 1997, Congressman Hal Rogers and the late General James Bickford, the former Secretary of the Kentucky Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Cabinet, noticed something else in the region – litter.
As a response, the two leaders worked to form Eastern Kentucky PRIDE (Personal Responsibility In a Desirable Environment) to tackle the mounting problems of litter, illegal dumping, and failing wastewater systems that were fouling the region’s streams.
With a vision to involve citizens, elected officials, businesses, teachers, and students, Eastern Kentucky PRIDE was created with the goal of inspiring everyone to take pride in the region through personal action.
Nearly three decades later, PRIDE continues to engage counties, schools, businesses, and tens of thousands of volunteers with helping to keep The Kentucky Wildlands clean, healthy, and beautiful for the next generation.
Regional Impact
Water Quality
- 7,389 Septic Systems Installed
- 26,062 Homes Served by Sewer Projects
- 33,451 More Homes with Access to Sanitary Wastewater Treatment
Solid Waste
- 2,885 Dumps
- 189,511 Individual Appliances PLUS
- 42,860 Tons of Appliances
- 972,103 Tires
- 985,128 Bags of Trash PLUS
- 189,979 Tons of Trash
Education
- 1,652 Grants
- 925,582 Students Impacted
- 437 Outdoor Classrooms Built
- 155 Greenhouses Built
- 73 Nature Trails Built
- 67 Wetlands and Rain Gardens Built
- 130 School Recycling Projects Launched
- 28 EnviroScapes, River and Cave Models Built
- 62 Teacher Training and Student Outreach Opportunities
- 158 Environmental Learning Resources
- 72 Gardens
- 18 Solar Energy Projects
Other Trainings
- 733 Solid Waste Management
- 2,164 Water and Wastewater Operators
Volunteers
- 445,827 Volunteers
- 1,503,169 Volunteer Hours
What We Stand For
Clean Water
Healthy streams and rivers are the lifeblood of The Kentucky Wildlands. We work to keep them free of litter, sediment, and untreated waste.
Personal Responsibility
Lasting change starts with individuals choosing to care for their own backyards, roadsides, and hometowns.
Community Pride
When neighbors come together, a cleaner environment becomes a point of shared identity and lasting proof of what we can do.
