Awards We've Received

2005 - Florida Trust for Historic Preservation Outstanding Achievement Award

The Florida Trust for Historic Preservation honored the collaborative effort that produced the timely Disaster Planning for Florida's Historic Resources manual. At its annual meeting held in May 2005 in Coral Gables, the organization presented an award for "Outstanding Achievement in the Field of Preservation Education/Media" to 1000 Friends of Florida, the Division of Historic Resources, Florida Department of State, and the Division of Emergency Management, Florida Department of Community Affairs. This manual provides practical steps for integrating historic resource protection into Florida's emergency management process.

2005 - Tallahassee Trust for Historic Preservation/Florida Heritage Foundation Awards for Organizational and Individual Achievement

At their February 3, 2005 ceremony, the Florida Heritage Foundation and Tallahassee Trust for Historic Preservation presented organizational achievement awards to 1000 Friends of Florida, the Florida Department of State's Division of Historical Resources, and the Department of Community Affairs' Division of Emergency Management for developing Disaster Planning for Florida's Historic Resources. The full-color manual and companion on-line education module are the outgrowth of a four-year collaboration between 1000 Friends and the two state agencies. Designed for use by community planners, they present methods for integrating historic preservation into Florida's disaster preparedness process.

Vivian Young, Communications Director with 1000 Friends since 1996, also received an individual achievement award from the two preservation groups at their 2005 awards ceremony. From 1984 to 1987, Vivian served as Florida's first statewide Main Street Coordinator. Later, as the preservation planner for the Historic Tallahassee Preservation Board, she played a key role in the development and adoption of Tallahassee's historic preservation ordinance, historic property grant and loan program, and historic preservation element for the Tallahassee-Leon County Comprehensive Plan. Since joining 1000 Friends, Vivian has continued her efforts in historic preservation, including work on the manual Disaster Planning for Florida's Historic Resources and on Tallahassee's Gaines Street Corridor project, which resulted in the local designation of the All Saints Historic District.

1000 Friends of Florida's Affordable Housing Director, Jaimie Ross, was named a 6th Annual James A. Johnson Community Fellow for her lifelong dedication to creating affordable housing for working families. Ross was selected "for her superior record of achievement in increasing Florida's supply of affordable homes and helping working families navigate the pathway to homeownership." The naming of Jaimie Ross on May 11, 2004, as one of the six Fellows honors the service of James A. Johnson - past chairman of the Fannie Mae Foundation and former chairman and CEO of Fannie Mae - who worked tirelessly to make affordable housing a national priority. Jaimie Ross was afforded the opportunity to pursue personal renewal through a year of study and travel. "We are very proud of Jaimie and her outstanding work on behalf of the people of Florida," said 1000 Friends of Florida President Tim Jackson. "Thanks to her leadership and dedication, Florida has one of the finest affordable housing programs in the nation."

In May of 2004, 1000 Friends of Florida received an award from the Friends of the Wekiva for ongoing work over the past two years on developing the Wekiva Parkway and Protection Act. The Act implements the recommendations of the Final Report of the Governor's Wekiva Basin Coordinating Committee. 1000 Friends participated in the committee's proceedings, and was heavily involved in drafting the bill that passed. The act includes provisions to build the Wekiva Parkway, which will complete a beltway around Orlando, and constructing an associated connector road. To protect sensitive natural resources, four buffer areas will be publicly acquired, local governments are required to update their comprehensive plans to address the impacts of the road, and DCA and the St. Johns Water Management District will coordinate to ensure that plan amendments that increase development potential demonstrate that adequate water supply is available. In addition, several state agencies will initiate rulemaking regarding nitrogen reduction, water retention and recharge, minimum flows and levels, and pollution load reduction. The bill was signed into law by Governor Bush in the summer of 2004.

2003 - Florida Chapter of the American Planning Association Award of Excellence

The Florida Chapter of the American Planning Association presented an award of excellence for Protecting Florida's Springs: Land Use Strategies and Best Management Practices. The award was announced at FAPA's annual meeting in September of 2003. The manual was prepared by 1000 Friends of Florida and a Technical Advisory Committee on behalf of the Department of Community Affairs and Department of Environmental Protection. Protecting Florida's Springs, published in 2002, was cited for providing "a valuable tool and basis by which county governments, many of which are rural, can begin to regulate development in a manner which protects the viability of this unique Florida Resource for future generations." The publication provides guidance for local governments on protecting these natural treasures.

At its annual award luncheon on April 26, 2003, the Martin County Conservation Alliance honored 1000 Friends of Florida with its Outstanding Achievement Award, presented for "outstanding leadership to protect and preserve growth management in Florida and in Martin County." Former Martin County Commissioner Maggie Hurchella made the presentation. Accepting on behalf of 1000 Friends, Chairman Emeritus Nathaniel Reed said that it was a great honor for 1000 Friends to be honored by the Alliance.

At its annual meeting on May 19, 2000, The Nature Conservancy presented 1000 Friends of Florida with its 2000 Grassroots Leadership Award. According to State Director Bob Bendick, "This award honors an organization or individual that has demonstrated leadership in developing broad-based support for conservation projects." He added, "We are delighted to honor your work in constructive growth management."

Also recognized were Joseph and Jennifer Duke, who received the Conservation Champion Award, and Paul and Vivian Carey with the Legacy Leadership Award. Both the Wildfire Pacific Corporation and Judy Hancock of the Sierra Club received the Conservation Colleague Award. Charles Pattison, Executive Director of 1000 Friends, said, "It is a special honor to receive this award from The Nature Conservancy, which has an impressive track record of success in Florida and across the nation."

A Presidential Citation from the American Institute of Architects awarded to 1000 Friends of Florida in March reads:

In one of this nation's richest yet most delicately balanced ecological Edens, they have been an eloquent and effective force for keeping the "shine" in the Sunshine State. Whether as monitors, enablers, advocates or visionaries–all roles they have played to great effect–they sow hope for all the citizens of Florida and, indeed, the nation, by demonstrating that the hand of man on nature does not need to be grasping, but can, instead, be the gentle touch of a caress.

In accepting the award, 1000 Friends Board Member Jim Apthorp said, "We at 1000 Friends are deeply honored to be the recipient of this award." He went on to note that "It is especially rewarding that it comes from this respected national association of architects, as their profession plays an instrumental role in developing smarter, more livable communities for future generations."

At the Florida Wildlife Federation's 60th annual awards ceremony on September 13, 1997, 1000 Friends of Florida was presented the Land Conservationist of the Year Award. Board member C. Allen Watts represented 1000 Friends at the ceremony, held on Hutchinson Island. Federation President Manly K. Fuller praised 1000 Friends of Florida for conducting "a variety of growth management-related activities including plan review and legal proceedings." These accomplishments, he added, were made possible "under the leadership of a 23-member board of directors and a dedicated staff led by Ms. Patricia McKay."

Other award recipients included Mary Barley and Paul Tudor Jones, II, for leading efforts to protect and restore the Florida Everglades and Florida Bay, and Tall Timbers Research, Inc., for leadership in the use of fire to promote ecologically-sound land management. In recognition of their recent court victory, Save Our Creeks, Attorney General Bob Butterworth, and David Guest received awards for their roles in maintaining public access to Fisheating Creek in Glades County.

Nationally recognized environmentalist Marjorie Harris Carr was inducted into the Florida Conservation Hall of Fame. A founder of the Florida Defenders of the Environment, she led a decades-long battle to stop construction of the Cross Florida Barge Canal and restore the Oklawaha River. Ms. Carr passed away a few weeks later, on October 10, 1997.

1995 - American Greenways Du Pont Award

In 1995, 1000 Friends of Florida was selected to receive the American Greenways Du Pont Award in recognition of its leadership and success in fostering the creation of one of the nation's most outstanding statewide greenway systems. The award was established by Du Pont in partnership with The Conservation Fund and the National Geographic Society. The judges felt that through the leadership, energy and dedication of 1000 Friends, the vision of a national network of greenways and linked open spaces articulated by the President's Commission on Americans Outdoors is well on its way to becoming a reality.

1993 - National Environmental Achievement Award

1000 Friends of Florida was chosen from over 1,600 applicants nationwide by the National Environmental Awards Council, a coalition of 30 leading environmental organizations coordinated through Renew America, to receive this award in 1993. Renew America is a non-profit organization that identifies, verifies and promotes environmental initiatives developed by individuals, community groups, businesses and government agencies.

1991 - Academy of Florida Trial Lawyers' "Allies Award"

For safeguarding Florida's fragile and beautiful environment, 1000 Friends of Florida received this award in 1991, and was honored at the Academy of Florida Trial Lawyers' annual meeting.