Keep Oklahoma Beautiful Honored with National Award for their Keep Route 66 Beautiful Initiative

Keep America Beautiful National Innovation Award presented by Lucinda Robb, granddaughter of Lady Bird Johnson (L); and Keep America Beautiful CEO, Jennifer Lawson (R); to Keep Oklahoma Beautiful executive director, Evelyn Schaefer (center)

OKLAHOMA CITY — Keep Oklahoma Beautiful was honored with the National Innovation Award during the 2026 Keep America Beautiful Summit in New Orleans, Louisiana. This prestigious award recognizes organizations that develop and lead groundbreaking, creative solutions to environmental challenges within their communities. Keep Oklahoma Beautiful received this distinction for its innovative initiative, Keep Route 66 Beautiful, which empowers communities to remove litter and enhance the beauty of the iconic 400+ miles of Route 66 in Oklahoma. The initiative provides vital resources to support local efforts in beautification and environmental stewardship along the historic highway.

The award ceremony featured Lucinda Robb, granddaughter of Lady Bird Johnson, who presented the award and shared inspiring remarks. “If my grandmother was here, I know she would be very pleased and proud of the work you’re doing in Oklahoma,” Robb stated, reflecting on Lady Bird Johnson’s enduring legacy in environmental beautification.

Evelyn Schaefer, Executive Director of Keep Oklahoma Beautiful, accepted the award on behalf of the organization. “Our mission only works because of the heart and hard work our Affiliates pour into their hometowns every single day,” said Schaefer. “As we all prepare for the influx in tourism in Oklahoma communities, we will continue to work with local leaders to build community pride and a much more beautiful, sustainable state.”

In 2025, Keep Oklahoma Beautiful was awarded a grant through the Route 66 Revitalization Program, an initiative of the Oklahoma Department of Commerce. The grant enabled the organization to collaborate directly with communities on projects including painting, planting trees, installing pollinator gardens, removing roadside litter, and other beautification efforts in preparation for the highway’s centennial anniversary. This program has helped the Oklahoma Route 66 Association with beautification efforts, such as the cleanup at Kobel’s Station in Foss in 2025.