For a cleaner, more prosperous world, ACC mobilizes conservatives around environmental issues, fostering collaboration in the pursuit of environmental conservation.
Date: 5/6/2019
contact: Bethany / [email protected]
The American Conservation Coalition (ACC) is proud to announce that its President, Benji Backer, has been given the 2019 Dan Evans Environmental Award by the Mainstream Republicans of Washington (MRW). Previously given to leaders like Bill Ruckelshaus (the first EPA Administrator), the annual award applauds the environmental work of an outstanding Washington state conservative.
The award is named in honor of the environmental legacy of Dan Evans, former Washington state Governor and U.S. Senator. During his tenure as Governor, Dan Evans founded the Department of Ecology in Washington state, later used as a model for the creation of the EPA under President Richard Nixon. In 2018, the area covering Olympic National Park in Washington state was renamed the Daniel J. Evans Wilderness Area commemorating his important work as governor, where he protected 1.5 million acres of land.
Benji said: “This award means more to me than any other in my lifetime. Dan Evans’ leadership encapsulates what it means to be a conservative conservationist—by using common-sense conservative values and working across party lines. The ACC was founded on the values of pioneers like Dan Evans. His leadership plays a vital role in inspiring the ACC team, and we’ve been grateful for his kind support. I’m proud to call Dan Evans a mentor and friend, and humbled to receive this award. It shows how far our organization has come, and I want to thank the Mainstream Republicans of Washington for this incredible honor. My biggest hope is that our organization can continue to live up to Dan Evans’ incredible legacy. We’re honored to have an award in his name.”
Benji will accept the award on May 17th at MRW’s Cascade Conference in Leavenworth, Washington, where Dan Evans will lead a hike with Benji and other attendees in the Alpine Wilderness. More information about the conference can be found here: https://washingtonmainstream.org/event/cascade-conference-2019/