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PRC Recognizes Michael DiBerardinis, Philadelphia Eagles, 8 Others At Awards Dinner
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Secretary DiBerardinis

The Pennsylvania Resources Council this week honored Michael DiBerardinis, Secretary of the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, the Philadelphia Eagles and eight other organizations at their “Going for Green: Going for Eco-Friendly Choices” annual awards dinner on November 13th.

The Honorary Dinner Chair for this year’s event was Ms. Judy Spires, President of Acme Markets, and the keynote speaker was Dr. Mark Alan Hughes, Director of Sustainability for the City of Philadelphia.

The event was held at the Radisson Hotel Valley Forge in King of Prussia.

Michael DiBerardinis, Secretary of the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, was selected to receive the prestigious Fox-Calhoun Award named after two of PRC’s founders – Hilda Fox and Cynthia Calhoun. Secretary DiBerardinis was recognized for his exemplary leadership in natural resource conservation and his efforts in building policy and programs to address global warming and carbon sequestration.

Other awardees include:

Philadelphia Eagles: Also being recognized at the event for becoming the most environmentally friendly team in the National Football League were the Philadelphia Eagles. The team’s “Go Green” slogan encompasses everything from their green jerseys to renewable energy for the stadium and off-setting their carbon footprint when they travel. The organization’s Senior Vice President/Chief Financial Officer, Don Smolenski, accepted the award on behalf of the Eagle’s Organization.

Philadelphia Housing Authority: In recognition of their achievements, PRC selected leaders from across Pennsylvania to receive awards in a number of other categories. The Philadelphia Housing Authority received the Leader in Community award its recent program commitment to reduce energy consumption in its residential and office buildings and adhere to federal Energy Star standards. PHA formally launched its conservation plan with residents on Earth Day 2006.

Brandywine Conservancy: The Leader in Conservation this year went to the Brandywine Conservancy. The Conservancy’s Environmental Management Center is a leading local and national advocate for responsible land use and open space preservation. The Conservancy currently holds more than 400 conservation easements and has protected over 41,000 acres in Chester and Delaware Counties in Pennsylvania and New Castle County, Delaware.

WaWa: The team of Wawa, Manko Katcher Gold Fox LLP, and NBC 10 captured the Leader in Education award this year. Together they sponsor an Environmental Community Service Award program that recognizes one middle school and one high school in the Delaware Valley for their community based programs that support the environment. Each school receives a $5,000 award and NBC 10 covers the ceremony.

Exelon Generation received the Leader in Energy award for its Fairless Hills Waste-to-Energy Project. At the education facility which opened this fall, students can learn through state-of-the-art, interactive displays how landfill gas is captured and turned into clean, renewable energy. They also learn about other forms of alternative energy sources such as hydro, wind and solar.

Pembrooke North and Penn State University: This year there were two winners in the Leader in Sustainable Design and Development category - Pembroke North and The Pennsylvania State University. Pembroke North Condominium was the first Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design (LEED) registered multi-family residential project in the Greater Philadelphia region. From inception, the company committed to using environmentally conscience building methods and materials.

The Pennsylvania State University has adopted a policy to achieve LEED certification, including very aggressive targets for achieving energy efficiency, for all of its new or renewed facilities. Successful application of this policy dramatically reduces energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions at its facilities.

PRC’s Annual Awards Dinner traditionally brings together more than 200 business, government and community leaders from throughout the Commonwealth. For 69 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 inform and encourage current and future leaders to take an active role in promoting sustainable living and conserving our natural resources.

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.

For more information, visit the PA Resources Council.


11/14/2008

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