Five organizations have been awarded funding to address environmental priorities in East Tennessee, according to Volkswagen of America and The Conservation Fund.
Grants of up to $50,000 will advance local efforts to help improve water quality, enhance outdoor recreation, and provide environmental education, the entities said on Wednesday.
As winners of the Volkswagen Community Grant Program, five charitable organizations located in East Tennessee received grants of up to $50,000 to advance efforts that will provide environmental learning and leadership opportunities for local youth, help keep rivers and waterways within the Cherokee National Forest clean, and provide current recreational access information for outdoor lovers in the region, the organizations aid.
The awards go to:
* Keep The Tennessee River Beautiful for river cleanups with volunteers that raise awareness for conservation of waterways and showcase the vastness of the Cherokee National Forest spanning from Ocoee River to Watauga Lake.