Public Trust Board President Warren Anderson received Grimes Environmental Activist Award.

Local Activist Receives Environmental Award

Warren Anderson, President of the Board of Directors of the Public Trust Environmental Law Institute of Florida, received the Bob and Carol Grimes Environmental Activist Award December 14, 2007.

"I was pleased to receive this special award and honored by the presence at the ceremony of so many environmental friends who do so much for our community," Anderson said.

            Anderson, a local attorney at the firm Anderson, Howell and Ravis, received the award for his service to organizations such as the St. Johns Riverkeeper, Preservation North Florida, and the Sierra Club, and for co-founding the Public Trust Environmental Law Institute. Anderson is very active in the Public Trust, which, during the past year, has worked to raise community consciousness about the toxin mercury, initiated a lawsuit with the Riverkeeper to force JEA to stop releasing raw sewage into the St. Johns River and tributaries, and is working on a paddling guide for the Intracoastal Waterway.

"Bob Grimes was committed to this area – he was a nature photographer and painter, served our city on the Environmental Protection Board, and could identify every bird that flew in our skies. My message is consistent with his philosophy – that Northeast Florida, a place of spectacular beauty and fascinating cultural history, is our home, where we have a sense of place. The Public Trust Environmental Law Institute is focused on enhancing and protecting the special places within our home – we have a duty to save these special places for future generations."

Warren Anderson holds his award with presenters Hugh Cotney and Carol Grimes.

            The award was given during the Civic Roundtable’s December luncheon at the Wyndham Riverwalk Hotel, hosted by Duval Audubon. Carol Grimes and attorney Hugh Cotney, Director of the Grimes Foundation, presented the award. The award recognizes leadership in grassroots efforts advocating for environmental protection. The past two winners were author Bill Belleville ( River of Lakes; Losing It All to Sprawl) and columnist Ron Littlepage.


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QM 12/20/07