Tourism Cares Receives Award for Gulf Coast Clean Up

May 8, 2006

Tourism Cares Receives Award for Gulf Coast Clean Up
May 8, 2006 – Tourism Cares Executive Director Bruce Beckham accepted an award from the National Trust for Historic Preservation and the Mississippi Heritage Trust during a reception on May 3 in Biloxi, Mississippi. Beckham accepted the award on behalf of the 330 volunteers at the 2006 Tourism Caring for America Gulf Coast Clean-Up in appreciation of the efforts of the volunteers who assisted in the clean up of nine tourism-related sites this March.

"The wealth of history and culture along the Mississippi Gulf Coast could not be destroyed by Hurricane Katrina." Said Beckham adding "For two days, our volunteers sifted through rubble to save and preserve historic artifacts exposed to the elements and feared lost. We were honored to be able to lend a hand to our friends along the Mississippi Gulf Coast."

During the 2006 Tourism Caring for America Gulf Coast Clean up, historic sites including Beauvoir – The Jefferson Davis Home, the Maritime & Seafood Industry Museum, the Ohr-O’Keefe Museum and other sites were tended to the volunteers representing the travel, tourism and hospitality community. In total, 5,000 hours of hard labor were provided over the two days.