KGIB Volunteers Honored for Community Service

BRUNSWICK, GA (February 24, 2026) -- Celebrating community and honoring volunteers was the focus of Keep Golden Isles Beautiful’s recent Volunteer Recognition breakfast. With a staff of just two, the 47-year-old educational non-profit depends on volunteer effort, community/government partners and financial supporters to further community betterment activities, projects and initiatives.

Ten community volunteer and partner awards were presented for the calendar year 2025:

• Community Partner of the Year/Non-Profit, College of Coastal Georgia;

• Community Partner of the Year/Profit, Yamaha Marine;

• Outstanding Public Service/City Government, Rick Charnock;

• Outstanding Public Service/County Government, Glynn County Emergency Management Agency; Outstanding Elected Official, Glynn County Commissioner Wayne Neal;

• Pittenger Environmental Steward of the Year, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority;

• Horizon Award, Wings of Grace;

• Shining Star Award, Glynn County School System;

• Hindery Adopt-A-Highway Volunteer of the Year Award, Black Diamond Goddesses; 

• The Bootsie Mason Award of Excellence Matthew Permar. 

Each recipient received a custom-made award hand crafted from scrap wood and bicycle parts created by KGIB staff and volunteers. In 2025, residents and visitors volunteered with KGIB 4,990 times, for a combined 11,024 volunteer hours. In that year, 763 litter cleanups were conducted, removing 86 tons of litter.

Click HERE for more Award Reception photos.

Pictured: KGIB 2025 Award Recipients, KGIB Board Members and Staff, and Volunteer Announcers.