The Society of Women Environmental Professionals of Greater Philadelphia honored Kathy Klein, executive director of the Partnership for the Delaware Estuary, with its 11th Annual Touchstone Award, given once a year to a woman who has made outstanding and significant progress in the environmental professions.

Klein has spent the past 20 years working in the environmental non-profit arena throughout the Philadelphia region. She is credited with leading the 501c(3) non-profit National Estuary Program for eight of its 10 years, during which she has been instrumental in leading collaborative and creative efforts to protect and enhance the Delaware Estuary, and its tributaries, for current and future generations.

Her work involves partnering with, and securing funding from, two regional offices of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency; three states, including Delaware, Pennsylvania, and New Jersey; four major metropolitan municipalities, including the Cities of Camden, Philadelphia, Trenton, and Wilmington; and a laundry list of organizations and businesses spread across more than 6,700 square miles of the Mid-Atlantic region.

“Receiving this Touchstone Award is very humbling,” Klein said. “I am so fortunate to have a great staff and supportive partners. By working together, we’re really making great strides.”

During Klein’s tenure, the Partnership for the Delaware Estuary has helped to educate thousands of teachers and school kids about environmental science, established a reoccurring Delaware Estuary Science Conference, partnered with almost 30 corporations to improve localized land management, created and participated in dozens of annual community-based events, and much more. The organization also plays key roles as part of the Schuylkill Action Network and the Delaware Bay Oyster Restoration Task Force.

Past recipients of the award include Sarah M. Hetznecker, P.G., of Mesa Environmental Sciences, Inc., Joanne Dahme of the Philadelphia Water Department’s Office of Watersheds, Marilyn Hewitt, P.G., of Roux Associates, and many other notable professionals.

For more information, visit the Partnership for the Delaware Estuary website or call 800-445-4935 toll free and the Society of Women Environmental Professionals of Greater Philadelphia website or call Nicole Moshang at 484-354-7611.

11/3/2006