News:
SURFRIDER FOUNDATION RECEIVES TOP ENVIRONMENTAL AWARD
California Governor's Award For Environmental Leadership in Children's Environmental Education
Sacramento, CA (December 2, 2003) - The Surfrider Foundation has been awarded the 2003 Governor's Award for Environmental Leadership in Children's Environmental Education for its Respect The Beach campaign by the California Environmental Protection Agency. The announcement was made last night at a gala awards presentation in Sacramento, California.
The Governor's Environmental and Economic Leadership Awards are California's highest and most prestigious environmental honor recognizing individuals, organizations, and businesses that have demonstrated exceptional leadership in building public-private partnerships while making notable contributions in conserving California's environment.
Respect The Beach is the Surfrider Foundation's flagship educational program. The program utilizes a variety of activities and materials, including field trips, classroom lectures, printed units, video and hands-on projects, to educate students and community groups on issues surrounding coastal environments and to promote beach and coastal stewardship. Since its inception in 1991, Surfrider's Respect The Beach program has been presented to over 10,000 classrooms and community groups throughout the country.
The award, which was bestowed by the Davis administration, was presented by newly elected California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger. On hand to accept the award were Christopher Evans, Executive Director for the Surfrider Foundation and past Board of Directors member and current Chair of Surfrider Foundation's San Clemente Chapter, Mark Cousineau.
"To be here and see the Surfrider Foundation receive an award of this magnitude, I'm speechless," said Cousineau, whose chapter single-handedly carried out a quarter of the nearly 800 Respect The Beach presentations in 2002. "This really validates the countless hours of effort that Surfrider activists have committed over the years. This award belongs to them.
"Other notable figures at last night's awards ceremony included actor Beau Bridges, as well as the newly appointed head of Cal-EPA, Terry Tamminen and newly appointed California Secretary of Resources, Mike Chrisman. However the marquee name of the evening was Governor Schwarzenegger, who, following the award ceremony met privately with the winners."
(This group) is made up of incredible talent and leadership that represents California," said the Governor. "I am honored to be amongst you."
The Surfrider Foundation is a non-profit grassroots organization
dedicated to the protection and preservation of our world's oceans, waves
and beaches. Founded in 1984 by a handful of visionary surfers, the
Surfrider Foundation now maintains over 37,000 members and 60 chapters
across the United States and Puerto Rico, with international affiliates
in Australia, Europe, Japan and Brazil. For more information, visit
us at
www.surfrider.org.
Media Contact:
Matt McClain
Surfrider Foundation
PO Box 6010
San Clemente, CA 92674-6010
Phone (949) 492-8170 / Fax (949) 492-8142
Email:
mmcclain@surfrider.org
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