Audubon and Toyota, the founders of the TogetherGreen initiative, announced the names of forty environmentalists, who have been selected for 2011 TogetherGreen Fellowships.
Launched in 2008 by Audubon and Toyota, the five-year TogetherGreen initiative aims at building a greener, healthier future through innovation, leadership and volunteerism.
Each year, 40 TogetherGreen Fellows are selected to conduct projects in a community or region focused on engaging diverse audiences in habitat, water, and/or energy conservation. Restoring acres of cornfield to native prairie in Iowa; creating a greenhouse program at a prison in Portland; providing green jobs training for Oakland at-risk youth; and bringing the healing power of the natural world to patients with dementia are just a few ways in which world’s some of the most promising conservation leaders will advance their environmental vision and leadership skills as recipients of this year’s prestigious fellowships, the companies explained in a press release.
The awardees have been chosen from diverse backgrounds. This year's Fellows have been chosen from 38 cities in 27 states. Fifteen professionals are from within the Audubon network and 35 are aligned with outside organizations.
The recipients of the fellowship will be provided with the tools, resources, visibility, and a peer network to advance their conservation actions that will help shape a healthier environmental future. In addition they will receive a $10,000 grant, assistance in launching a conservation action project, specialized training, and the opportunity to become part of an exciting alumni network of conservation professionals.
“We are thrilled to award TogetherGreen fellowships to another talented and diverse group of environmentalists who have the passion and skills to inspire and lead others. They are the talented leadership the environmental community needs to tackle the huge challenges and opportunities confronting us,” Audubon President David Yarnold noted in a statement.
“The results from the first three years of the Fellows program brought to life everything that TogetherGreen sought to accomplish. I'm confident that the next group of Fellows will continue that success and make a difference for years to come,” Pat Pineda, group vice president of philanthropy for Toyota Motor North America noted in a statement.
In a separate release, Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., Inc. announced that three Chicago-area residents were selected as finalists of the “WCL Cares Big Car Giveaway” on a broadcast of Windy City Live. According to a release, these contestants are vying for the chance to win an all-new 2012 Toyota Camry.
Madhubanti Rudra is a contributing editor for TMCnet. To read more of her articles, please visit her columnist page.Edited by
Jennifer Russell
