CHARLOTTE, NC – Sustain Charlotte, a local nonprofit dedicated to educating, engaging, and uniting citizens to solve Charlotte’s sustainability challenges, recognized 100 Charlotte area citizens and organizations for their innovative work to advance the region’s sustainability. Awards were presented to thirty-one winners in front of a crowd of 350 at the Sustain Charlotte Awards + Earth Day Celebration on April 22  (Earth Day) at the Historic Palmer Building in East Charlotte. Local nonprofits, government agencies, businesses, and neighborhood associations were recognized for helping to advance ‘Charlotte 2030:  A Sustainable Vision for Our Region’, which Sustain Charlotte launched in 2010. The Earth Day Network recognized the celebration as an official Earth Day event.

Charlotte Mayor Dan Clodfelter and City Council Members Alvin Austin, John Autry, Vi Lyles, Greg Phipps,Patsy Kinsey, and LaWana Mayfield, as well as Mecklenburg County CommissionerPat Cotham and Trevor Fuller were in attendance. Terri Bennett, Co-Founder of Do Your Part® served as Master of Ceremonies.  

Sustain Charlotte Founder and Executive Director Shannon Binns welcomed the audience saying, “Regardless of religion, race, or political boundaries, what unites us all is our shared dependence on this planet: for food, for energy, for water, for air – for everything that sustains us. On this 45th Earth Day, we come together to lift up those who are leading the way to making our community sustainable so that 45 years from now, our children, nieces, and nephews will enjoy at least the same health and prosperity that we enjoy today, if not more.” 

Awards were presented to three organizations in each of eight categories: Land Use, Sustainable Economy, Energy, Food, Waste Reduction, Social Equity, Transportation, and Water. Also, three individuals were recognized as Outstanding Leaders. This year’s winners are:

Event sponsors included:  Charlotte Magazine, Boingo Graphics, Mecklenburg County, Plan Ahead Events - South Charlotte, Hannah Solar, O2 Energies, Belk, TreeCycle America, Sean Busher Imagery, Blumenthal Foundation, S&D Coffee, Duke Energy Foundation, Solar Solution, NC Sustainable Energy Association, Healthy Home Market, Charlotte Green Team, McGuireWoods, Whole Foods Market, Cruise Carts, Clean Air Carolina, Habitat for Humanity Charlotte ReStore, TapSnap, Zippy Shell, and NC GreenPower.

For more information on the event, visit the event website sustaincharlotte.org/awards or contact Sustain Charlotte. 

Sustain Charlotte is a nonprofit organization helping to advance a region-wide sustainability movement by serving as a catalyst for change.  Our mission is to inspire choices that lead to a healthier and more vibrant community for generations to come.  Visit www.sustaincharlotte.org for more.

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