Adopt-A-Beach Spring Cleanup April 20th

The annual Adopt-A-Beach Spring Cleanup is Saturday, April 20 and Texas Land Commissioner Jerry Patterson is getting the word out with a creative -- and revolting -- new public service announcement. The cleanup will take place at three sites in theVictoriaarea.

“Fresh from the sea, enjoy these special dishes prepared just for you, like used cigarette butts and broken bottle combo,” says an unreasonably chipper voice while a plate piled with broken glass and beer bottle tops is served up. “Or why not try our new catch of the day — 55-gallon drum. And make sure to save plenty of room for our all new dirty diaper pie.”

The ad is available is being sent to television stations statewide and is available here: http://youtu.be/wPD6Dau2m9g

“This ad is intentionally disgusting,” Patterson said. “But sometimes folks need to be shocked into understanding that the trash they drop on the beach makes it into the ocean and eventually into our food chain.  Hopefully this ad will motivate people to keep our beaches clean. Just don’t watch it before dinner.”

Texas— home to the nation’s first all-volunteer beach cleanup in 1986 — boasts one of the biggest all-volunteer beach cleanups in the world. And on April 20, more than 10,000 Texans are expected to participate in the Adopt-A-Beach Spring Cleanup at 28 sites along theTexasCoast.

Volunteers may register on-line for the Spring Cleanup at www.TexasAdoptABeach.org or at 27 of the 28 check-in sites (advanced registration required for St. Jo Island) beginning at 8:30 a.m. Saturday, April 20. Each volunteer will be given data cards, gloves, pencils and trash bags. All volunteers are advised to wear closed-toe shoes, bring sunscreen and plenty of drinking water.  The Texas General Land Office Adopt-A-Beach Cleanups are held rain or shine!

Texans who are not able to attend the cleanup can help keep their beaches clean by making a tax-deductible donation online at www.TexasAdoptABeach.org. There are several different Adopt-A-Beach sponsorship levels ranging from $25 to $25,000, allowing both individuals and corporations to contribute to this major cleanup effort. Statewide coastal cleanups are held every spring and fall. Shell Oil Company and Motiva Enterprises are the lead statewide sponsors for the 27^th Texas General Land Office Adopt-A-Beach Spring Cleanup. Other sponsors include HNTB, Exxon-Mobil Chemical, Schlumberger, Keep Texas Beautiful, Halliburton, the Newfield Foundation, the Environmentally Friendly Drilling Program and SeaWorld of San Antonio.  Local media sponsors are KAVU-TV ABC 25, KVCT-TV FOX 19, KXTS-TV CBS 41, KMOL-TV NBC 17, KIXS-FM, KLUB-FM, KTXN-FM, and KQVT-FM Town Square Media.

To learn how you can participate, or for additional information on the Adopt-A-Beach program, please visit www.TexasAdoptABeach.org or contact the GLO at 1-877-TX COAST. Those interested may also become a fan of the program at www.facebook.com/texasadoptabeach where event details and results will also be posted.