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Upstate Forever to Honor Seven Upstate Champions, Host Famed Pianist Chuck Leavell

Greenville, SC – January 5, 2011 – Upstate Forever is pleased to announce its Second Annual ForeverGreen Awards Luncheon, an event that honors individuals and organizations that have made significant contributions in the fields of conservation, air and water quality, sustainable development, public service and volunteer work in the Upstate. Sponsored by BMW and the Community Journals, the luncheon will be held on Thursday, February 3, 2011 at Embassy Suites from 11:30am-1:30pm. The program will include lunch, presentation of the awards, and a keynote address from famed pianist, Chuck Leavell.

This year’s award winners are:
• Extraordinary Achievement: Tommy Wyche
• Public Servant of the Year: Mayor Rick Danner, City of Greer
• Clear Skies Champion: Pickens County
• Land Conservation Champion: Naturaland Trust
• Clean Water Champion: Dave Hargett
• Sustainable Communities Champion: Frank Powell
• Volunteer of the Year: Rick Huffman

A renowned pianist and keyboardist who formerly played with The Allman Brothers Band and Eric Clapton and still plays with The Rolling Stones, Chuck Leavell is a respected authority on conservation and a successful tree farmer. Following his address, Chuck will perform a few of his favorite songs for the audience.

“This is our opportunity to recognize and say thank you to an amazing group of people and organizations for their contributions in keeping the Upstate as one of the best regions in the world,” said Brad Wyche, Executive Director of Upstate Forever. “And what an honor to have Chuck Leavell with us to both speak and play! This is an event not to be missed!”
Tickets are $50 per person. VIP tickets are available for $150 per person, including premier seating and an autographed copy of Chuck Leavell’s latest CD. Sponsorships start at $750. To become a sponsor or purchase tickets and tables, contact Kate McHugh at (864) 232-2302 or kate@crawfordstrategy.com.

About the 2011 Award Winners:

• Tommy Wyche – Tommy Wyche’s determined, passionate and creative leadership for nearly 40 years is responsible for one of the most significant conservation achievements in United States history – the protection of over 100,000 acres of the Blue Ridge Escarpment in South Carolina. Iconic places such as Jones Gap State Park, Caesar’s Head State Park and the Jocassee Gorges owe their existence to Wyche and his extraordinary work. Much of his advocacy for the protection of the South Carolina mountains has been done through six best-selling books of his own nature photography.

• Mayor Rick Danner – Elected Mayor of Greer in 2000 and now in his third term, Rick Danner has been behind the wheel of Greer’s dramatic downtown revitalization, including the new Police and Court facility and the new Municipal Complex, which includes a new City Park. Danner is a strong proponent of alternative transportation and “practices what he preaches” through his own active participation in the sport of bicycling. He is also a state leader, having recently served as President of the Municipal Association of South Carolina where he played a key role in the Hometown S.C. initiative aimed at increasing recognition that South Carolina's cities and towns are the State’s economic engines.

• Pickens County - In July of 2009, Pickens County brought online its custom-built biodiesel plant, designed to produce up to 750,000 gallons of biodiesel per year. The county picks up cooking oil from 20 schools and about 40 local businesses and fuels its on-road diesel fleet with the B60 mix. Biodiesel produces 78% less CO2 emissions and is free of sulfur and aromatics. Pickens County will continue to expand its biodiesel production and is converting its county patrol cars to propane. The county's goal is to be the first county in the nation to have an entirely green fleet.

• Naturaland Trust – Established by Tommy Wyche in 1973, Naturaland Trust is the second oldest land trust in South Carolina, and its sole focus has been the protection of lands in our state’s mountains. Most recently, Naturaland Trust has secured major grants to protect important lands along Highway 11 and has donated to the South Carolina parks agency large mountain tracts as the “match” for grants used to protect other significant properties. Naturaland Trust designed, and used volunteer high school and college students to construct, the wonderful system of hiking trails in the Mountain Bridge Wilderness Area and has published a popular guide to the trails, now in its fourth edition.

• Dave Hargett - Dr. Dave Hargett is the owner and Senior Consultant of Hargett Resources, Inc., Environmental Consultants. He is receiving the Clean Water Champion Award because of his tireless efforts to protect and preserve clean and abundant water throughout the Upstate. These efforts include leaderhip of the Saluda-Reedy Watershed Consortium, the Lake Conestee project, and the Partners for Trout initiative. Hargett has also been a key partner in Upstate Forever’s work on protecting and improving water quality in the North and South Saluda Rivers.

• Dr. Frank Powell - Dr. Frank Powell, professor of health and exercise science at Furman University for 36 years, has been the pioneering advocate for environmental sustainability and conservation at the University. His accomplishments include Furman’s first environmentally sensitive building (the Eco-Cottage), course work on the environment and sustainability, the Cliffs Cottage, and the construction of all new and renovated buildings on campus in accordance with LEED standards.

• Rick Huffman - Rick Huffman, of Pickens, has more than 25 years of experience in landscape architecture, horticulture, bioengineering, and ecology, with particular expertise in native plants. He is the principal and founder of Earth Design Inc., which has grown to become one of the leading firms in the Upstate specializing in cost-effective and environmentally responsible design. Despite a full schedule with his business and other nonprofit work, Huffman has done it all for Upstate Forever, including speaking at our events without charge, maintaining the native plant landscaping and green roof at our office, and lobbying in Columbia for conservation-friendly legislation

About Upstate Forever:
Upstate Forever is a non-profit, membership-based organization that promotes sensible growth and the protection of special places in the ten-county Upstate region. We have three main programs: Land Trust, Clean Air and Water, and Sustainable Communities. Visit www.upstateforever.org for more information.