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Previous Sustainability Award Recipients

2003

Sustainable Livelihood:
Tom O'Grady

Business Partner:
Lamborn's Studio and Custom Framing

2001

Sustainable Livelihood:
Pete Hill and Marty Zinn

Business Partner:
Darby Land Lumber and Hardware, Trimble

AWARDS

Points of Light Foundation honors Rural Action

December 2004
Ohio Hill Country Heritage Area honors Carol Kuhre

December 2004
Monday Creek receives ODNR Minerals Education Award

November 2004
Ohio Environmental Council presents Conservation Achievement of the Year award to Monday Creek

December 2002
National Rural Community Assistance Award

April 2000
National Award for Sustainability

Rural Action presents Sustainability Awards

Rural Action presents annual Sustainabilty Awards

May 21, 2004

Each year RA board, staff, and members are asked to nominate individuals, businesses and organizations that have shown support for Rural Action/community sustainability. Our board votes on recipients of the Sustainability Award, given at the Annual Dinner.

The Reverend Jan Griesinger has served as Director of United Campus Ministry Center for Spiritual Growth and Social Justice at Ohio University for the past 28 years. She is a graduate of United Theological Seminary in Dayton, Ohio, and is ordained into the ministry of the United Church of Christ. Reverend Griesinger’s work for social justice is nationally known and has been profiled in the film "No Need To Repent," filmed by Ann Alter.

She has served on the staff of the World Student Christian Federation, held leadership positions with Campus Ministry Women, served on the Ohio Campus Ministries Governing Board and staffed various boards, taskforces and working groups for her denomination’s national office. Jan graduated Phi Beta Kappa in Religion and Philosophy from DePauw University before going to the seminary.

Throughout her life Jan has been active in and co-founded many organizations and committees attempting to break down the walls of racism, sexism and classism. She has won a number of major awards, and has also led many educational tours to historic Civil Rights Movement and Underground Railroad sites. Having mentored, counseled, taught, befriended, guided and advocated for countless members of the Ohio University and Athens communities, Jan has come to hold a special place in many hearts.

For her enormous contributions to this region, we are pleased to honor the Reverend Jan Griesinger with Rural Action’s Sustainable Livelihood Award.

WATH Radio, a locally owned radio station serving Southeastern Ohio at 970 AM, has served the public in good faith by featuring the efforts of local people dedicated to building a strong Appalachian Ohio. Through daily community affairs discussions on its call-in show "Party Line," many public service announcements and the airing of the weekly interview show "Volunteer Action," WATH has diligently informed local citizens of ways they can become involved by volunteering their time to improve the environment, economy and civic life of the region.

Within the past year, Rural Action has partnered with WATH to produce "Volunteer Action," which has featured 50 guest speakers from 40 area groups describing the many ways their agencies engage volunteers to accomplish important missions. Rural Action VISTA Volunteer Steve Zarate serves as coordinator for the series. We applaud the co-owners of the station -- Manager Dave Palmer and his sister Carol Lambert, and also her husband Bob, who serves as WATH Operations Director -- and the host of "Volunteer Action," Dr. Ray Wagner, for their pro-active roles in encouraging development of the show.

For their contribution to informing and engaging the public in dialogue on matters of community interest, and for the station’s many contributions to area communities, we are pleased to honor WATH with Rural Action’s Sustainable Partnership Award.

The Institute for Local Government Administration and Rural Development (ILGARD) is a part of the Voinovich Center for Leadership and Public Affairs at Ohio University. Throughout the years, ILGARD staff and programs have interfaced with Rural Action in many ways. Rural Action has participated in regional efforts to increase civic and economic activity through the Central Appalachian Network and the Appalachian Ohio Regional Investment Coalition, and ILGARD staff have served as Project Managers and guides in both projects.

We are especially grateful to ILGARD Director Mark Weinberg, ILGARD Associate Director for Professional Development of the Voinovich Center and Senior Project Manager Pat Dewees, Outcome Evaluator Dr. Paul Longo, Manager of Communications and Multi-Media Karoline Lane and Research Associates Robin Neuhart for their generous guidance and for serving as honorable and respectful colleagues.

Our efforts to restore watersheds in the region have been greatly enhanced by the work of Senior Environmental Project Coordinators Rachel Hoy and Scott Miller, by Water Quality Specialist Chip Rice, and by ILGARD’s GIS staff, J.B. Hoy, Matt Trainer, Darren Cohen and Dave Simon.

We also want to acknowledge past Rural Action and current ILGARD employees Jennifer Bowman, who is now a Project Manager with ILGARD and Ben McCament who is now the Raccoon Creek Project Coordinator. Finally, long-time Rural Action supporter and Ohio University Environmental Studies Director Dr. Gene Mapes has served as an advisor to our Environmental Learning Program.

For the many ways they enhance our work and Southeastern Ohio, we are pleased to honor ILGARD with Rural Action’s Organizational Partnership Award, which is given to a business that partners with Rural Action toward our mission of working for a more sustainable region.