And the awards go to...

Big Sweep made a BIG difference this year. Check out our awardees below who helped make that happen! Check out the video at the bottom to see their interviews too!

Margaret Vaughn & Jonny Gillette

Big Sweep Outstanding New Volunteer Award

Margaret Vaughn and Jonny Gillette are the recipients of the Outstanding New Volunteer Award. Their quest to clean-up our waterways began in the fall of 2021, when they contacted Big Sweep to see if they could bring an event like the Crabtree Creek Big Sweep to their neighborhood. They accomplished this, and their new event resulted in the removal of 2,500 pounds of litter. Vaughn and Gillette have gone above and beyond, showing outstanding initiative and leadership in volunteer service for Wake County.

Richard Arnold

Big Sweep Outstanding Volunteer Award

The 2022 Outstanding Volunteer Award goes to Richard Arnold for his exceptional volunteer service, dedication and leadership with Wake County Big Sweep. Richard has been attending the Crabtree Creek Big Sweeps near Crabtree Valley Mall since 2016. This is a unique event that takes place on the water in kayaks and canoes, with volunteers removing trash like tires, shopping carts and mattresses from the creek. When long-time volunteer Art Ross stepped back from leading this popular event, Arnold didn’t hesitate and picked right up where Ross left off, making sure Wake County’s natural areas and waterways are protected.

S&P Global

B.C. Raynor Friend of the District Award

The B.C. Raynor Friend of the District Award recognizes the important role of the business community in conservation efforts. It’s named for Dr. Bobby Carlyle Raynor, who was raised on a family farm in eastern North Carolina and went on to become a successful dentist in the Triangle. This year’s award goes to S&P Global, a financial information and analytics company. They conducted not one, but two Wake County Big Sweeps this year. They also donated $2,000 to the Friends of Wake Soil and Water to support Big Sweep, which work to protect watersheds, enhance water quality and keep our environment litter-free.