“Sustainability Through Education: Celebrating 65 Years of Success” is the theme of the Pennsylvania Resources Council’s (PRC) annual fundraising and awards dinner. The event, which will honor leaders in sustainability, will be held November 9 at the Sheraton Society Hill on Dock Street in Philadelphia.

The honorary dinner chair is James M. Seif, Vice President Corporate Relations, PPL, and the keynote speaker will be Kathleen McGinty, Secretary of the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection.

PRC’s board of directors has selected Larry Schweiger, President and CEO of the National Wildlife Federation (NWF), to receive the prestigious Fox Calhoun Award. This special award, which is named after two of PRC’s founders – Hilda Fox and Cynthia Calhoun– has been presented only 16 times in the organization’s 65 year history. Larry is being recognized for his exemplary leadership and achievements while serving as President and CEO of the Western Pennsylvania Conservancy from 1996 until April of this year when he accepted his new position with the NWF.

Other award winners are the Engineering and Design Institute, Philadelphia University, for its leadership in sustainable building; Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful for its leadership in sustainable partnerships; and Patricia Vathis, Environment and Ecology Education Advisor with the Pennsylvania Department of Education, for her leadership in sustainable education.

The Annual Awards Dinner traditionally brings together more than 250 business, government and community leaders from throughout the Commonwealth. For 65 years, PRC has been working with such leaders to create solutions to environmental challenges and to reach out to the community through its educational programs. These programs serve to inform and encourage future leaders to take an active role in protecting our natural resources.

Established in 1939 to reduce roadside litter and to fight unsightly billboards, PRC is one of the Commonwealth’s first grassroots environmental organizations. PRC’s programs have expanded to include recycling and buying recycled, pollution prevention, environmental lifestyle choices, watershed and air quality education, and many litter prevention programs.

For information about PRC or about the dinner, contact Rosemary Kesling at 610-353-1555 ext. 228.

10/29/2004