North Palm Beach, Fla. (February 12, 2024) – Florida State Parks presented Florida Power & Light Company (FPL) with the Corporate Contributor of the Year award for its decade-long partnership with Friends of MacArthur Beach State Park at the Florida State Parks District 5 Volunteer Appreciation Day on Tuesday.
The award recognizes the 10-year collaboration between FPL and Friends of MacArthur Beach State Park and their shared commitment to protecting the Park’s natural resources. FPL’s headquarters is right down the road from the Park, lending a natural fit between the staff and the resources at MacArthur Beach.
The company has been bringing its team to MacArthur Beach State Park for beach and mangrove cleanups multiple times a year for over a decade. Most recently, more than 40 team members from FPL’s environmental services business unit participated in a mangrove cleanup where they collected over 650 pounds of marine debris. Keeping the Park’s 1.6 miles of beach and mangroves clean is vital to creating a safe environment for animals and Park visitors, reducing the effect of microplastics, and preserving the natural beauty of the Park.
“Our Park is made even better through the energy and commitment provided by our volunteers,” said Veronica Frehm, Chief Executive Officer of Friends of MacArthur Beach State Park. “Having FPL as a partner is an incredible opportunity for our Park. FPL understands that protecting the environment is a collective responsibility, so whenever they want to do a project at the park, we try our hardest to make it happen – which is a win for all involved. They have such a force of staff and resources; it is wonderful that they want to help keep MacArthur Beach clean and accessible to all. We love working with them and are extremely grateful for all that they have done and will continue to do for our Park in the future.”
In addition to donating time, FPL is a great partner in other capacities. The company provided funding for the purchase of an Americans with Disabilities Act-accessible electric tram. The tram can accommodate up to six people and has a deck and ramp perfectly designed to allow a wheelchair to board. It is built to travel the terrain of the trails and boardwalk that wind through MacArthur’s mangrove estuary and beach, allowing the Park to continue its efforts to be accessible to all. Additionally, two of their staff members sit on the board of Friends of MacArthur Beach State Park.
“We are honored to be a long-time partner of MacArthur Beach State Park and to support its mission of providing recreation opportunities, while also preserving and restoring our local natural environment,” said Ilan Kaufer, an FPL external affairs manager and a board member of Friends of MacArthur Beach State Park. “Thank you for this recognition. We look forward to continuing to work together to preserve the park and its resources, as well as enhancing its educational, accessibility and recreational offerings for our local community.”
The award winners are part of thousands of people from all over the country who give their time and talent to their state parks. Florida State Park volunteers play a vital role in supporting park operations and MacArthur Beach is no exception. The annual awards ceremony was held on Tuesday at Bill Baggs Cape Florida State Park in Key Biscayne.
About MacArthur Beach State Park:
John D. MacArthur Beach State Park, Palm Beach County’s only state park, is situated on a barrier island between the Atlantic Ocean and the Lake Worth Lagoon. The Park is made up of 436 acres of pristine coastal land and contains four different communities or habitats including seven species of plants and 22 species of animals on the endangered or threatened list. For more information about MacArthur Beach State Park visit, macarthurbeach.org.
About Florida Power & Light Company:
As America’s largest electric utility, Florida Power & Light Company serves more customers and sells more power than any other utility, providing clean, affordable, reliable electricity to approximately 5.9 million accounts, or more than 12 million people. FPL operates one of the most fuel efficient and cleanest power generation fleets in the U.S. and in 2022 won the ReliabilityOne® National Reliability Award for the seventh time in eight years. The company was also recognized by Escalent in 2022 as one of the most trusted U.S. electric utilities for the ninth consecutive year. FPL is a subsidiary of Juno Beach, Florida-based NextEra Energy, Inc. (NYSE: NEE), a clean energy company widely recognized for its efforts in sustainability, corporate responsibility, ethics and compliance, and diversity. NextEra Energy is also the parent company of NextEra Energy Resources, LLC, which, together with its affiliated entities, is the world’s largest generator of renewable energy from the wind and sun and a world leader in battery storage. For more information about NextEra Energy companies, visit these websites: www.NextEraEnergy.com, www.FPL.com, www.NextEraEnergyResources.com.
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