“Nurturing Environmental Leaders” was the theme of the Pennsylvania Resources Council’s (PRC) annual awards and fundraising dinner.   The event, which honored environmental leaders from across the state, was held November 8, 2007 at the Radisson Hotel Valley Forge in King of Prussia.

In recognition of their achievements, PRC selected leaders from across the Commonwealth to receive awards in the categories of community, conservation, education, energy, environmental health, and, sustainable design and development.

 Click here to see a slideshow of the event

Donnan Stoicovy, Principal at the Park Forest Elementary School in the State College Area School District, was this year’s winner in the leadership in education category.  Ms. Stoicovy has been a leader in environmental education in Pennsylvania for 26 years having served twice as President of the PA Association for Environmental Education.   Her office is often a laboratory for environmental projects where she shares her love of the environment with students and teachers alike.  The school has received numerous recognitions and grants including PA Waste Watchers Award, Greenworks grants, and recognition by the State Environmental Education Roundtable for using the environment as an integrating context.  

Whole Foods Markets was the winner of the award for leadership in the community.  Whole Foods’ seven stores offer “product swaps” where their shoppers can exchange a bottle of a conventional cleaning product for a safer, more eco-friendly alternative.  Shoppers can also bring in plastic shopping bags in exchange for reusable canvas ones.  They offer composting and recycling programs for their customers and their stores use 100% wind power energy.

Winner for their leadership in land conservation efforts in eastern PA was the Natural Lands Trust.  Since 1953, they have preserved more than 130,000 acres of land directly and through partnerships with individuals, conservation groups, and government agencies.  They help communities achieve their own conservation goals through land-use planning, land stewardship and conservation-oriented development ordinances. They have provided consulting services to 122 municipalities in 23 Pennsylvania counties.

United Oil Company received an award for their leadership in green energy.  United Oil Company’s products are specially designed to assist their customers with increasing productivity, reducing costs, improving safety and being environmentally friendly.  United has been a leader in the formulation and production of industrial lubricants, many of which are based on natural vegetable oils and animal fats, from which BioDiesel is also produced.  They are especially proud to introduce United B100 Biodiesel fuel. 

University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute, Center for Environmental Oncology was selected for leading the way in environmental health.  By translating scientific research into practical, accessible information used to educate the public and health professionals about lowering exposure risks to environmental toxins, the Center works to influence public policy and provide a wide-range of educational outreach programs.  Since 2004, the Center for Environmental Oncology’s Community Outreach and Education division has reached well over a million people, locally, nationally, and internationally through educational sessions in the form of workshops, seminars, continuing medical education, conferences and events which cover a variety of environmental health topics.

The Philadelphia Water Department (PWD) received an award for their leadership in sustainable design and development.  PWD has integrated the City’s programs for Combined Sewer Overflow, Stormwater Management, and Source Water Protection into a watershed management based approach that uses land, waterway, infrastructure and sustainability practices to protect drinking water supplies and promote the propagation of fish and wildlife habitat. Their watershed protection strategies, focused on our water resources, seamlessly compliment the region’s green development practices, recreation, ecotourism and sustainable riverfront re-development efforts.

Special recognition awards were presented to Representative Rubley (District 157) and Senator Erickson (District 26) for their long-time legislative leadership on environmental issues. 

PRC’s Annual Awards Dinner traditionally brings together more than 200 business, government and community leaders from throughout the Commonwealth.  For 68 years, PRC has been working with such leaders to create solutions to environmental challenges and to reach out to the community through its educational and service programs. These programs serve to encourage current and future leaders to take an active role in conserving our natural resources and promoting sustainable living.

Established in 1939 to reduce roadside litter and to fight illegal billboards, PRC is one of the Commonwealth’s oldest, grassroots, environmental organizations.  PRC’s headquarters is in Ridley Creek State Park in suburban Philadelphia.  It also has a regional office in Pittsburgh and has satellite operations in the Harrisburg-Lancaster-York region.  PRC’s programs have expanded to include resource conservation, environmental summer camps, recycling, composting, teacher workshops, watershed and air quality education, and a variety of litter prevention programs.