Neuse RIVERKEEPER©

Neuse River Foundation Receives the 2007 Dan Wilkinson WRAL Conservation Communication Award

Raleigh, N.C. – The Wake Soil and Water Conservation District Board of Supervisors has presented its Dan Wilkinson WRAL Conservation Communication Award to the Neuse River Foundation.

 The award recognizes an individual, business or organization for its leadership in communicating the District’s message of natural resource stewardship to the community.  
Wake Soil and Water Conservation District’s Education Specialist Sheila Jones said “The Neuse River Foundation has exhibited tireless grit, buoyant passion and unsinkable resolve in working to achieve their vision of a river safe for swimming, drinking and filled with fish thriving in a healthy habitat, for ourselves, our children and for all generations to come.”
The Neuse River Foundation, (NRF) a non-profit organization that speaks for the longest and 3rd largest river in NC located in one of the fastest growing population centers in the US, has continually acted as a leader in communicating to the public the importance of protecting our natural resources. The Foundation is being recognized for communicating not only with words but also with actions. NRF’s initiatives to engage and educate citizens about natural resource stewardship, includes the annual Neuse River Cleanup, hosting Neuse River Days, creating the Muddy Water Watch and River Watch programs and sponsoring the Riverkeeper Film Festival.
Neuse River Foundation President Dave McCracken stated, “It is indeed an honor to be selected from among the many worthy people and organizations that work hard everyday protecting Wake County’s land and water ways. Education and public outreach programs that stimulate volunteer and community participation are at the heart of Neuse River Foundation’s efforts. We are proud to have been chosen as the Wake Soil and Conservation District’s recipient of the 2007 Dan Wilkinson WRAL Conservation Communication Award.”        
Larry Petrovick, a conservationist with the District added, “In December of 2003, we renamed our annual conservation media award in the memory of the late WRAL-TV Reporter Dan Wilkinson, as a tribute to Dan’s professional and dedicated farm reporting. Dan would be pleased to know that the Neuse River Foundation received this award.”
McCracken also noted, “that this has been an unprecedented year of recognition for the Neuse River Foundation. In February 2007, the foundation was the recipient of the prestigious North Carolina Wildlife Federation’s Governor’s Conservation Achievement Award and was named “2006 Conservation Organization of the Year” for the State of North Carolina.”