约炮视频 Gala Honors Leading Conservationists with Top Environmental Awards

The 约炮视频 hosted its Annual Gala Dinner last night at The Plaza Hotel in New York City. The organization awarded two of the nation鈥檚 most prestigious environmental honors: the 约炮视频 Medal and the Dan W. Lufkin Prize for Environmental Leadership.  Businessman and philanthropist Dan W. Lufkin was awarded the 约炮视频 Medal, and conservationist and former president of The Nature Conservancy Patrick F. Noonan received the $100,000 Lufkin Prize.

David Yarnold, president and CEO of the 约炮视频 served as the evening鈥檚 emcee and introduced the two honorees by saying: 鈥淭hese two men are a part of a larger story 鈥 a story about a handful of leaders who built America鈥檚 environmental movement 鈥 and on whose shoulders we stand.  A life鈥檚 work is a legacy only if others carry it forward, and they have.  You can see Dan鈥檚 and Pat鈥檚 values in 约炮视频鈥檚 work and in the work of so many other organizations here tonight.鈥

Holt Thrasher, 约炮视频鈥檚 board chairman, presented Dan Lufkin with the 约炮视频 Medal for his dedication to the environment and fervent support for the 约炮视频. The 约炮视频 Medal is one of the highest honors in conservation and is given in recognition of outstanding achievement in the field of conservation and environmental protection. Since its creation in 1947, only 52 people have received the 约炮视频 Medal, including Rachel Carson, Robert Redford, Ted Turner, Edward O. Wilson, Julie Packard, the Rockefeller family, and Donal C. O'Brien, Jr. among others.

鈥淚'm deeply honored to receive the 约炮视频 Medal from the 约炮视频, which is an effective and innovative leader in the conservation field,鈥 said Dan Lufkin. 鈥淟ike those who've received this great honor before me, I believe fighting for a healthy environment is a key challenge of our time, and I'm doing my best to do my part. I hope the occasion of this award will inspire others to join me and 约炮视频 and all the others out there working toward these goals.鈥

The newly created Lufkin Prize was established last year by Dan Lufkin鈥檚 family in recognition of his lifetime commitment to the environment. The prize is meant to honor individuals who have dedicated their lives to on-the-ground conservation.  The award was presented to Patrick F. Noonan by Nathaniel P. Reed, former assistant secretary of the U.S. Department of the Interior for Fish, Wildlife and Parks.

Patrick Noonan announced during his acceptance speech that he would be donating his $100,000 Lufkin Prize to the Donal C. O'Brien, Jr. 约炮视频 Sanctuary and Center at Pine Island, named in honor of Donal C. O鈥橞rien, Jr., who was instrumental in arranging the donation of the nearly 3,000 acres in North Carolina, in order to create the state鈥檚 first 约炮视频 center.

The 约炮视频 took a moment early on in the evening鈥檚 program to pay a touching tribute to Donal C. O鈥橞rien, Jr., a longtime supporter and 25-year board member of the 约炮视频, who passed away in September 2013.  During his tenure, O鈥橞rien co-chaired the Society's monumental strategic planning process to "connect people with nature." The plan led to the establishment of 约炮视频's network of state offices across the country. These offices, in turn, launched the Important Bird Areas program鈥攖here are now nearly 2,700 IBAs nationwide鈥攁nd helped open 43 new 约炮视频 centers. These centers reach a diverse array of new and younger audiences and inspire future conservation leaders.

The evening welcomed 400 guests and raised $1.5 million for the 约炮视频.

Guests included: Jane Alexander, Dan W. Lufkin, Patrick F. Noonan, Kelly Rutherford, Richard Kind, Betsey Johnson, Good Morning America鈥檚 Ginger Zee, WNBC鈥檚 Ben Aaron, Nathaniel P. Reed, Holt Thrasher, David Yarnold, Leonard Lauder, Alexis Maybank, Allison Rockefeller, Jayni Chase and more.

Photographs available from David J. Ringer (dringer@audubon.org) 212-979-3062.