From: Audubon < This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it >
Subject: Tamarac Man Receives Audubon/Toyota Fellowship for Environmental Leadership
To:  This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it
Date: Thursday, November 19, 2009, 10:39 AM

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November 19, 2009                     Taryn Martinez (212) 979-3185 /  This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

                                                    Doug Young (954) / dyoung@southfloridaaudubon.org                   

Tamarac Man Singled Out for Environmental Leadership

Honoree Receives Audubon/Toyota TogetherGreen Fellowship

New York, NY, November 19, 2009-A Tamarac, Florida man is the recipient of a national fellowship designed to advance the work of individuals with outstanding leadership potential to help shape a brighter environmental future.

Doug Young is one of 40 individuals nationwide selected as a 2009 TogetherGreen Fellow. TheTogetherGreen Fellowship offers specialized training in conservation planning and execution, the chance to work and share best practices with gifted conservation professionals, and assistance with project outreach and evaluation. Each Fellow receives $10,000 towards a community-focused project to engage local residents in conserving land, water and energy, and contributing to greater environmental health.

For his fellowship, Young will help his Audubon Chapter advance its Global Warming Initiative to begin the greening of city government. “The Greening of City Government: Environmental Responsibility Practices for Cities” is a one-day workshop for Broward County and South Florida cities to discuss implementation of the US Mayors Climate Protection Agreement and how each municipality can use their existing staff and resources to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Young hopes participants will not only reduce the greenhouse gas emissions of their municipalities, but take steps to become environmental leaders in their communities.

Young currently serves as South Florida Audubon Society's president. In that capacity, he forms partnerships with South Florida Audubon and other NGOs, green businesses, government and academia by providing advocacy, outreach and education opportunities in the community.

“Doug is the kind of person who can make a real difference in the health of our environment and the quality of our future,” said Audubon President John Flicker. “Each of our TogetherGreenFellows demonstrates exceptional environmental understanding and commitment, combined with tremendous potential to inspire and lead others. Together, they represent the talented and diverse leadership the environmental community will need to tackle the huge challenges and opportunities confronting us now and in the years to come.”  

“The TogetherGreen Fellowship aligns well with the mission and goals of the South Florida Audubon Society but is particularly timely in marching many of the goals and actions to be presented by the Broward County Climate Change Task Force to the County Commission for approval,” said Young. “This makes the ‘greening of the cities’ relevant and should allow for effective implementation of innovative and immediate change leading to lowering of greenhouse gas emissions.”

Young has been affiliated with South Florida Audubon Society since 2004. Half of theTogetherGreen Fellows come from within Audubon’s far-reaching national network; half channel their environmental efforts through other organizations.

Young received his Master’s degree in environmental studies from York University and his Bachelor’s degree in biology and psychology from McGill University . A dedicated conservationist, Young serves as a member of the Broward County Climate Change Task Force and Chairs the Greenhouse Gas Reductions Subcommittee. He is an active member of the Everglades Coalition working towards Everglades Restoration and is on the Leadership Advisory team of the Green League of Broward.

A distinguished advisory committee - composed of conservation professionals and experts in environmental education, communications, outreach, and conservation planning - selected the fellowship beneficiaries from a competitive pool of scores of highly qualified individuals. Qualified applicants must have at least six years of experience in conservation, environmental education, policy, or environmental issues, as demonstrated through current and past work experience, academic studies related to conservation, and/or volunteer work. Candidates must have a passion for conservation, the desire to learn and grow, and demonstrate a proven ability in reaching previously unengaged audiences.

"We must engage the best and brightest leaders representing the broadest and most diverse communities in this country to solve our ever more complex conservation challenges,” said Diane Wood, President, National Environmental Education Foundation. “TogetherGreen is a creative program  that uncovers such leaders, nurtures their talents, supports their dedication to conservation and holds them up to inspire others to follow."

A complete list of the 2009 TogetherGreen Fellows can be found atwww.TogetherGreen.org/fellows.

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About TogetherGreen

Audubon and Toyota launched the five-year TogetherGreen initiative in 2008 to build the promise of a greener, healthier future through innovation, leadership and volunteerism. To date, 80 environmental leaders-half from within Audubon and half from outside organizations-have received TogetherGreen Fellowships to protect land, water, and energy resources nationwide. For more information, visit www.togethergreen.org.

About Audubon

Now in its second century, Audubon connects people with birds, nature and the environment that supports us all. Our national network of community-based nature centers, chapters, scientific, education, and advocacy programs engages millions of people from all walks of life in conservation action to protect and restore the natural world. Visit Audubon online atwww.audubon.org.   

About Toyota

Toyota (NYSE: TM) established operations in the United States in 1957 and currently operates 10 manufacturing plants. Toyota is committed to being a good corporate citizen in the communities where it does business and believes in supporting programs with long-term sustainable results. Toyota supports numerous organizations across the country, focusing on education, the environment and safety. Since 1991, Toyota has contributed more than $464 million to philanthropic programs in the U.S. For more information on Toyota 's commitment to improving communities nationwide, visit www.toyota.com/community.