Press release from Asheville GreenWorks:
Asheville GreenWorks is pleased to announce the winners of its 2019 Environmental Excellence Awards, which recognize outstanding achievements in environmental sustainability by individuals, organizations, schools and businesses located in Asheville and throughout Buncombe County. The winners will be honored at the Environmental Awards Night and Trashion Show on Saturday, April 27.
Asheville GreenWorks established the Environmental Excellence Awards in 1992, when the organization was known as Quality Forward.
“From partnerships coming together to create green communities, to those who have been working tirelessly for decades on environmental stewardship, our 2019 award winners represent some of the best environmental sustainability work happening in our community,” says Executive Director Dawn Chávez. “We’re pleased to have the opportunity to honor and celebrate them at our awards night.”
The evening’s entertainment will include a runway show featuring twenty incredible “trashion” designs made from materials headed to the landfill, a magnificent set design created by Gigantic! using reclaimed metal, plastic bags and water bottles to build an indoor forest, and interactive plastic-themed performance art by the Asheville Contemporary Dance Theater.
2019 Environmental Excellence Award Winners:
Lifetime Achievement Award: Dr. Paul Sisco, research scientist who has carried out decades of research on restoring the American Chestnut
Individual: Jay Kranyik, Botanical Gardens
Organization: Asheville Area Habitat for Humanity
Business: Craggy Park, Partnership including East West Capital Group, Mosaic Realty and JAG Construction
Education: Susan Sachs, Education Chief, Smoky Mountains National Park
Youth: Tamia Dame, student at UNC Asheville
Golden Shovel Award for an innovative, collaborative project that demonstrates a commitment to environmental sustainability: Metropolitan Sewerage District
Memorial Award: Scott Richards for his tireless efforts cleaning up local rivers
The 2019 awards night will be held at the DoubleTree by Hilton Asheville-Biltmore from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. The evening will include performances by Asheville Contemporary Dance Theater, a runway show featuring trashion designs by local artists, presentation of Environmental Excellence Awards, delicious hors d’oeuvres, and dessert and coffee for all guests. VIP ticket holders will be treated to a behind-the-scenes look at trashion designs and front-row seating.
Tickets for this 18+ event are $50 for General Admission; $40 for GreenWorks Members. VIP tickets are $75-$125. Tickets can be purchased at the GreenWorks office or online at: tinyurl.com/AGW2018. Dress is cocktail attire (repurposed and upcycled fashion is encouraged).
Helen Chickering, reporter and host of All Things Considered for Blue Ridge Public Radio, will emcee the awards ceremony to announce and honor the winners of the 2019 Environmental Excellence Awards. Blake Butler, of Adapt PR and former host of Local Edge Radio on 880 the Revolution, will entertain and inform guests as the MC for the Trashion Show, which will feature designs made from trash (yes, trash) such as outfits made from coffee filters, broken glass, or plastic shopping bags.
Winners of Environmental Excellence Awards are selected based upon evidence of results that positively affect the environment. A panel of individuals representing a cross-section of the community, including Asheville GreenWorks staff and board, and representatives from RiverLink, Wood, MountainTrue, and Asheville Design Center, evaluates nominees. Criteria include effectiveness; innovation, creativity and originality; environmental stewardship; leadership; and sustainability elements (how a nominee has improved social, economic and ecological conditions).
Sponsors of the 2019 Environmental Excellence Awards Night include BIMCO (Biltmore Iron and Metal Co.), Mosaic Community Lifestyle Realty, Equinox, Eco-Depot Marketplace, Waste Management, and Sugar Hollow Solar. In-kind support is being provided by Johnson Brothers Distributors, New Belgium Brewing, Gigantic!, Adapt PR, Helen Chickering and the DoubleTree by Hilton.
WHAT: Environmental Awards and Trashion Show
WHO: Asheville GreenWorks
WHERE: The DoubleTree by Hilton – Asheville-Biltmore, 115 Hendersonville Road, Asheville, NC 28803
WHEN: Saturday, April 27, 2019 • 6:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.
TICKETS: Tickets are $50 for General Admission; $40 for GreenWorks Members. VIP tickets are $75. Tickets can be purchased via the Asheville GreenWorks office or online at: https://tinyurl.com/EEAwards2019.
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