Editing Keep America Beautiful (section)

==History==
Keep America Beautiful was founded in December 1953 by the [[American Can Company]] and the [[O-I Glass|Owens-Illinois Glass Company]].<ref>{{cite news |last1=Tarantola |first1=A. |title=Is Big Tech 'greenwashing' its environmental responsibilities ahead of COP26? |url=https://www.engadget.com/is-big-tech-greenwashing-its-environmental-responsibilities-ahead-of-cop-26-170038455.html |work=Engadget |date=October 29, 2021}}</ref><ref name="grist">{{cite web |url=https://grist.org/culture/recycling-symbol-logo-plastic-design/ |title=How the recycling symbol lost its meaning |date= June 12, 2024 |access-date=June 29, 2024 |last=Yoder |first=Kate |website=Grist}}</ref>

Keep America Beautiful conducted many local PSA campaigns early in its history. One of these early campaigns in Pennsylvania ([[Pennsylvania Department of Transportation|PennDOT]]) some attribute to having coined the term "[[wikt:litterbug|litterbug]]," although the National Council of State Garden Clubs representative exhibited a "litter bug" emblem at the first Keep America Beautiful organizational meeting. Author and Federated Garden Clubs of Maryland president [[Alice Rush McKeon]] published "The Litterbug Family" in 1931 containing poems and illustrations about the problem of roadside litter.<ref name="dickson">{{Cite book |last=Dickson |first=Paul |title=Authorisms: words wrought by writers |publisher=Bloomsbury |year=2014 |isbn=9781620405406 |location=New York |pages=103}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Dickson |first=Paul |date=2014-06-17 |title=How authors from Dickens to Dr Seuss invented the words we use every day |language=en-GB |work=The Guardian |url=https://www.theguardian.com/books/2014/jun/17/authors-invented-words-used-every-day-cojones-meme-nerd |access-date=2023-08-22 |issn=0261-3077}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=http://archive.org/details/sim_national-parks_july-september-1954_28_118 |title=National Parks and Conservation Magazine July-September 1954: Vol 28 Iss 118 |date=July 1954|publisher=National Parks and Conservation Association |language=English}}</ref>

Keep America Beautiful joined with the [[Ad Council]] in 1961 to popularize the idea that individuals must help protect against the effects litter has on the environment.<ref name="autogenerated1">{{Cite web |url=http://www.adcouncil.org/default.aspx?id=132 |title=Ad Council : Pollution: Keep America Beautiful - Iron Eyes Cody (1961-1983)<!-- Bot generated title --> |access-date=2009-04-23 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081030084003/http://www.adcouncil.org/default.aspx?id=132 |archive-date=2008-10-30 |url-status=dead }}</ref> Gioni came up with the 1963 television campaign theme "Every Litter Bit Hurts."<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.thewall.net/view/548/littering-public-service-announcement-1963/ |title=Clip: Littering Public Service Announcement 1963 |access-date=2008-12-20 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081204144138/http://thewall.net/view/548/littering-public-service-announcement-1963/ |archive-date=2008-12-04 |url-status=dead }}</ref> Another campaign in 1964 featured the character Susan Spotless.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.thewall.net/view/549/littering-psa-susan-spotless-1964/ |title=Clip: Littering PSA Susan Spotless 1964 |access-date=2008-08-04 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081121050515/http://thewall.net/view/549/littering-psa-susan-spotless-1964/ |archive-date=2008-11-21 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

In 1970, Keep America Beautiful began distributing free brochures. More than 100,000 copies of the brochure were requested within four months.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Daye |first=Derrick |date=2007-11-10 |title=Great Moments In PSA's: Keep America Beautiful |url=https://brandingstrategyinsider.com/great-moments-i-8/ |access-date=2024-04-23 |website=Branding Strategy Insider |language=en-US}}</ref>

In 1971, on [[Earth Day]], a new campaign was launched with the theme "People Start Pollution. People Can Stop It." In what later became known as the "Crying Indian" PSA,<ref>{{cite news |last1=Dunaway |first1=Finis |title=The 'Crying Indian' ad that fooled the environmental movement |url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/opinion/commentary/ct-perspec-indian-crying-environment-ads-pollution-1123-20171113-story.html |work=Chicago Tribune |date=November 21, 2017 |language=en}}</ref> the television ad, narrated by actor [[William Conrad]] with [[Peter Sarstedt]]'s instrumental "Overture" playing in the background, featured Italian-American actor [[Iron Eyes Cody]],{{r|Orion 2008}} who portrayed a Native American man devastated to see the destruction of Earth's natural beauty caused by the thoughtless pollution and litter of a modern society.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.adcouncil.org/default.aspx?id=132 |title=Pollution: Keep America Beautiful - Iron Eyes Cody (1961-1983) |access-date=2009-04-23 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081030084003/http://www.adcouncil.org/default.aspx?id=132 |archive-date=2008-10-30 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url= https://www.chicagotribune.com/opinion/commentary/ct-perspec-indian-crying-environment-ads-pollution-1123-20171113-story.html |title= The 'Crying Indian' ad that fooled the environmental movement |date=November 20, 2017 |publisher=Chicago Tribune |access-date=November 26, 2022}}</ref>

In 1976, Keep America Beautiful introduced its "Clean Community System", which encouraged local communities to prevent litter through education efforts, public service advertising, local research, the mapping of litter "hotspots", and cleanup activities. During the height of the campaign, it received over 2,000 letters a month from people wanting to join their local programs.<ref name=autogenerated1 />

In 2023, Keep America Beautiful began its "Do Beautiful Things" podcast series hosted by Jenny Lawson, the organization's president and CEO. It covers policies, behaviors, and business solutions that can help create more sustainable communities. By featuring expert interviews and discussions it aims to educate and provide practical sustainability tips. <ref>{{Cite web |last=Vrydaghs |first=McCall |date=2023-11-06 |title=Keep America Beautiful Launches New Podcast Series: "Do Beautiful Things" with Host Jenny Lawson |url=https://kab.org/keep-america-beautiful-launches-new-podcast-series-do-beautiful-things-with-host-jenny-lawson/ |access-date=2024-10-07 |website=Keep America Beautiful |language=en-US}}</ref>