Learn how Matt Apple’s nonprofit Walking for Rochester is eliminating litter and building community pride through grassroots clean-up efforts.
Matt Apple, founder of Walking for Rochester, is on a mission to make Rochester a cleaner and more connected community. From his transformative journey into fatherhood to launching a nonprofit during the pandemic, Matt shares how he’s inspiring residents to take pride in their neighborhoods and why he believes in the power of collective action.
Q: First, tell us about who you are and what you do.
A: My name is Matthew Apple. I’m a Rochester native and the CEO of Walking for Rochester. My focus is connecting residents to our mission of eliminating litter in Rochester. Every day, I’m working to inspire people to take pride in their community.
Q: Can you share your career path and how you started Walking for Rochester? A: I graduated from Aquinas High School and attended college, but I kept changing my major each semester. I moved to Pittsburgh for a while, worked at a law firm, and explored careers in law and public service. Eventually, I returned to Rochester and worked at local bars to make ends meet. Becoming a father in 2016 completely changed my perspective. I started to think deeply about family, community and the world my son would grow up in.
I got into sales and worked for companies like Paychex and CGI, developing a love for business, marketing and connecting with people. During my daily walks to work, I noticed the amount of litter in the city. When the pandemic hit and I was furloughed, I decided to launch Walking for Rochester. It’s been a full-time effort since, and while the first three years were unpaid, the impact has made it worthwhile.
“Seeing strangers come together for a cause validated my belief in the power of community and importance of believing in yourself.”
Q: How has the greater Rochester community supported your efforts? A: The community has been incredible. During COVID, I was struggling personally, but support poured in from unexpected places. The Walking for Rochester app was developed through a capstone project at RIT for students interested in learning about app creation. The Public Defender’s Office partnered with us to refer clients needing community service hours. Residents and businesses joined in, and the City of Rochester’s anti-littering campaign, Respect Rochester, brought us even more visibility. Seeing local government, residents and organizations unite has been amazing.
Q: What are your passions outside of work? A: I’m very competitive, whether it’s playing games or challenging myself. Spending time with my son, family and friends is also important to me. I’ve had close friends since I was 4 years old. I’m a big NFL fan, too.
Q: What do you love most about Rochester?
A: Rochester’s diversity is what I appreciate most. From its vibrant art, music and comedy scenes to the incredible food culture, there’s so much to explore. I see beauty in how different cultures bring unique food and music to the community. It’s a city where there’s always something new to discover.
Q: Do you have a memorable moment from your work with Walking for Rochester?A: I’ll never forget our first clean-up. About 30 people showed up, which was overwhelming since we average about 10 now. At the start, I had little support—even my family and friends thought it was a waste of time. Seeing strangers come together for our cause validated my belief in the power of community and the importance of believing in yourself.
Q: What are some barriers you’ve faced in your work?
A: One major challenge is making the issue of litter relatable to people who have other priorities. We’ve worked to remove barriers by offering free equipment, delivering supplies and creating a mobile app to track clean-ups. We want to make it as easy as possible for people to volunteer. The key is showing how clean-ups connect to broader community pride and thriving neighborhoods.
Q: How can people get involved with Walking for Rochester?
A: It’s easy! You don’t need to sign up or bring anything, just show up for an hour. If you prefer to work on your own, we can deliver equipment to your door. Our goal is to make volunteering convenient and fun. Spreading the word on social media is also a huge help; the more exposure we get, the more people we can reach and inspire.
Q: What’s next for you and Walking for Rochester?
A: We’re going into our fifth year, and I’m excited about the growing sense of pride in the community. I see more people wanting to make a positive impact, and I believe Rochester is on an upward trajectory. We’re focusing on strengthening our programs and continuing to bring people together for a cleaner, more vibrant city.
