Upstate Forever to Host 2023 ForeverGreen Awards Luncheon - March 15th 2023

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Upstate Forever is excited to host the annual ForeverGreen Awards Luncheon on Monday, April 24, 2023, at the Embassy Suites on Verdae Boulevard. The luncheon celebrates those that have made significant contributions in fields related to conservation and sustainable growth. In addition to the 2023 awards program, this year’s ForeverGreen Luncheon will also celebrate Upstate Forever’s 25th anniversary.

Upstate Forever’s Executive Director, Andrea Cooper, is thrilled to celebrate individuals throughout the Upstate and at the State House, who are actively working to protect land and water resources and build more resilient communities. “For 25 years we have been diligently working to protect the Upstate’s most unique and critical environmental assets,” Cooper said. “It is an honor to celebrate individuals with a like-minded commitment to land conservation, clean water, and sustainable growth.”

This year’s award recipients are:

• The Tommy Wyche Land Conservation Champion: R. Glenn Hilliard, for his tireless advocacy for trails, green spaces, and natural places in the Upstate, for his determined quest for excellence in conservation outcomes, and for his leadership in the Saluda Grade initiative.
• The Brad Wyche Extraordinary Achievement Award: Dr. Joab M. Lesesne, for a lifetime of dedicated service to the natural world; for his conservation efforts in the Upstate and beyond; for his dedicated service to Upstate Forever as an advocate, board member and board chair; and for his leadership throughout the state as a voice for common-sense approaches to land and water conservation.
• Clean Water Champion: Ben Duncan, South Carolina Chief Resilience Officer, for his determined advocacy at the state level for enhanced water quality and smart approaches to resource protection.
• Public Servant of the Year: The Honorable Chandra E. Dillard, for her consistent voice in support of important land and water protection issues in the Upstate and statewide, and for her leadership as a voice for conservation statewide.

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Upstate Forever’s 2023 ForeverGreen Annual Awards Luncheon

Monday, April 24th at 11:00 am | Embassy Suites, 670 Verdae Boulevard, Greenville
Individual tickets to the ForeverGreen Luncheon are for sale on Eventbrite

Seating will be limited, and a recording of the event will be made available after the event

For more information or opportunities to sponsor the ForeverGreen Luncheon, please contact Murray Benson at murray@smoakpr.com

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Upstate Forever is a nonprofit conservation organization that protects critical lands, waters, and the unique character of the Upstate of South Carolina. We focus our work on the ten counties of Abbeville, Anderson, Cherokee, Greenville, Greenwood, Laurens, Oconee, Pickens, Spartanburg and Union. Since 1998, we have worked to protect the natural assets that make the Upstate so special: our farmlands, forests, natural areas, rivers, and mountains. We are committed to ensuring that our communities are vibrant and retain their green spaces, outdoor heritage, and unique identities in the face of rapid development and significant sprawl. Upstate Forever has offices in Greenville and Spartanburg.