The Event Goes On!

Dear Friend,

We originally planned to have our 2020 Women in Conservation Awards dinner at the National Aviary, in Pittsburgh, on April 30th. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic the event was canceled. We had hoped to reschedule it for an in-person event on October 8th, but have now decided that this would not be safe for you or our awardees. 

The 2020 PennFuture Women in Conservation Awards event will still take place on Thursday, Oct. 8th, but it will be a virtual event! More information on tickets for this event will be coming soon!

During the weeks leading up to our virtual event, we'll be profiling the eleven amazing women from Southwest PA we're celebrating this year. Today, we start with one of our Women of Lifetime Achievement in Conservation, Caren Glotfelty, Executive Director of Allegheny Parks Foundation.
 

Meet Caren Glotfelty,
Women of Lifetime Achievement in Conservation

Caren Glotfelty has been executive director of the Allegheny County Parks Foundation since 2014. She is a strong advocate of the natural environment as represented by her past experience including:

• Senior Program Director of the Heinz Endowments Environment Program for 13 years, where she was responsible for managing a grant portfolio totaling $8-13 million per year, addressing issues such as community revitalization, environmental health, parks, trails and land conservation.
• Maurice K. Goddard Chair in Forestry & Environmental Resources Conservation at Penn State University for 5 years; her work included teaching, research, outreach and leadership on topics and issues related to state and local environmental and natural resources policy.
• Deputy Secretary for Water Management in the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Resources for 4 years, developing and managing all state policy and regulatory programs related to water quality, sewage treatment, stormwater management, and stream protection.

Glotfelty holds a bachelor's degree from the University of the Pacific, as well as a master's degree in regional planning from the University of Pennsylvania. She currently serves on the Boards of Women for a Healthy Environment and Conservation Voters of Pennsylvania.

Caren is proud to have received numerous awards throughout her 47-year-long career and regards Penn Future’s Women in Conservation Award as a crowning achievement. "I have worked in the environmental field in Pennsylvania since 1973 and have seen the commitment of state and federal government to protecting natural resources and the environment ebb and flow. Now seems to be a time when citizens are better understanding the importance of a clean and healthful environment and abundant open space. I hope we will all take action to ensure that future policy aligns with our values by electing environmental champions to public office and holding them accountable," she said.

WOMEN IN CONSERVATION AWARDS VIRTUAL EVENT
SAVE THE DATE - THURSDAY, OCTOBER 8, 2020

Each year, PennFuture honors the accomplishments of exceptional women conservationists in Pennsylvania. The 2020 Celebrating Women in Conservation Awards are designed to encourage continuing excellence in conservation and to forge a stronger network of exceptional women working to protect Pennsylvania’s environment. 

Since its inception in 2015, this event has traveled around the state to different communities to ensure recognition of local leaders, volunteers, and career professionals. And for 2020 we are celebrating women in Southwest Pennsylvania. 

We also want to give special thanks to our sponsors for their continued support during these difficult times. If you would like information about sponsorship opportunities for this event, please contact Susanne Whitehead at whitehead@pennfuture.org.