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The Environmental Leadership Dinner

Past Honorees

Previous recipients of our Audubon Connecticut’s Environmental Awards include an amazing array of highly prestigious environmental leaders.

Christopher Shays |David Ogilvy | Robert F. Schumann | Dan W. Lufkin | Donal C. O’Brien, Jr.| Phoebe Milliken

2009 – Christopher Shays
Environmental Leadership Award

During his 21 years in Congress, U.S. Representative Christopher Shays was always a consistent voice for the environment. While in Congress, he played a pivotal role in introducing and gaining passage of the Long Island Sound Stewardship Act that authorizes up to $25 million each year to protect and preserve areas along the Sound's shoreline with significant ecological, recreational or educational value. In Greenwich, he was instrumental in securing the purchase and transfer of Calves Island, a 28.8 acre island located directly south of Byram Harbor, to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service for inclusion in the Stewart B. McKinney National Wildlife Refuge.

Congressman Shays did not limit his environmental endeavors to Connecticut. He fought for the health of all U.S. residents by introducing the Clean Water Protection Act, sponsoring the Energy for Our Future Act, cosponsoring The Fresh Air Quality Act, the Clean Smokestacks Act, and the Climate Stewardship Act. Mr. Shays was also a champion for some of our nation’s most fragile and significant natural areas such as the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, Yellowstone National Park, and the Northern Rockies Ecosystem.

Christopher Shays’ record demonstrates an enduring commitment to protect and preserve not only Connecticut’s natural resources but also those of our nation.

2008 – David Ogilvy
Lifetime Conservation Achievement Award

A life long resident of Greenwich, David has devoted his life to many areas of public service. Throughout his life, he has played a critical role in supporting those issues and organizations that affect all Greenwich residents. He is, or has been, actively involved with the Greenwich Land Trust, Greenwich Tree Conservancy, The Historical Society of the Town of Greenwich, the Arch Street Teen Center, the Family Centers, and the Boys & Girls Club.

David’s key involvement was responsible for preserving two critically important open spaces in Greenwich, the Pomerance-Tuchman and Treetops properties. Due to David’s efforts to galvanize community support, the Pomerance-Tuchman property was permanently preserved so that it could be enjoyed by future generations. The Treetops acquisition preserved 110 acres of Mianus River Watershed lands while adding to the Mianus Greenway so that this unique and ecologically valuable habitat could be forever shared.

David is also a recognized leader in the Greenwich business community. He founded David Ogilvy & Associates, a local real estate firm. He holds a B.A. from the University of Virginia.

2008 – Robert F. Schumann
Environmental Leadership Award

Robert Ford Schumann, a resident of Madison, CT, served for many years on the Board of the National Audubon Society. His love for nature, along with a willingness to protect it led to this award. His foundation supports many environmental organizations and causes.

As a family member, and later as Chairman, he served on The Shumann Foundation, created by his parents in 1962. It is now known as the Schumann Center for Media and Democracy. In honor of his length of service, the Foundation established a chair at Wesleyan University known as the Robert Schumann Environmental Studies Program.

Bob combined his knowledge of media with his love of nature by designing and setting up Audubon’s film and television programs. Over the years, Bob has lent support to our Long Island Sound program, national policy work, and the programs of Connecticut, New York, and Florida’s field operations. Currently, he serves on the Board of the Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology and on the Advisory board of Audubon New York.

Bob received a B.A. degree from Connecticut’s Wesleyan University and holds an honorary Ph.D. in Humane Letters.

2006 - Dan W. Lufkin
Environmental Leadership Award

Dan Lufkin has demonstrated an extraordinary commitment to conservation and devotion to environmental conservation in Connecticut and nationally. In 1970, he helped organize the first earth Day. In 1971, he became Connecticut’s first Commissioner of the Department of Environmental Protection. Under his leadership, Connecticut became one of the first states to establish inland wetlands regulations and the first to create a private enterprise, Resource Recovery Authority.

For more than 40 years, Dan has been deeply involved in the protection and restoration of the world’s natural resources with a special focus on Connecticut’s environment and the Long Island Sound.

Dan is also renowned for his business accomplishments as a co-founder and Chairman of Donaldson, Lufkin, & Jenrette. He also co-founded Questor Partners Fund I and II. His record led the Wall Street Journal to name him among the most significant “100 Men in the World: People Who Influenced Our Daily Business.” Dan’s other interests range from government and philanthropy to cattle ranching and horsemanship.

2005 - Donal C. O’Brien, Jr.
Environmental Leadership Award

Donal C. O’Brien served on the National Audubon Society’s Board of Directors for more than 25 years, serving 15 of those as Chairman. Throughout his lifetime, he has demonstrated an extraordinary commitment to conservation and the Audubon mission. Under his leadership, Audubon has become one of the leading advocates for the Long Island Sound and its critical bird habitats.

Donal’s commitment to the environment is unmatched. Donal has served on the Board of the Atlantic Salmon Federation, the Connecticut League of Conservation Voters, and is a member of The Waterfowl Research Foundation, American Bird Conservancy, and Jackson Hole Preserve, Inc. He is former Vice Chairman of the Board of The Nature Conservancy, former President of the International Council for Bird Preservation, Chairman Emeritus of the Quebec Labrador Foundation, and founding Chairman of the American Bird Conservancy.

2003 - Phoebe Milliken
Environmental Leadership Award

Phoebe Milliken has been for years a sound voice for land conservation and nature education. She has served on the Board of Directors of the National Audubon Society. She has helped to shape a generation of conservationists by teaching field biology to hundreds of young students during her tenure as a volunteer Teacher Naturalist at the Audubon Center in Greenwich.

Phoebe’s efforts have permanently preserved many critical habitats including Greenwich’s Byram River Gorge for The Nature Conversancy and critical open spaces for the Maine Coast Heritage Trust. For her work in conservation, she was awarded the Garden Club of America’s Margaret Hutchison Award. She has also served on the boards of the Greenwich Land Trust and The Greenwich Board of Parks and Recreation.