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"FRIENDS OF THELAX DUNES" GROUP RECEIVES AIRPORTS COUNCIL INTERNATIONAL-NORTH AMERICA 2018 ENVIRONMENTAL ACHIEVEMENT AWARD
LAWA's Robert Freeman (center left) and Tamara McCrossen-Orr (center right) accept award from ACI-NA staff. (Photo Credit: Airports Council International-North America)
(Los Angeles, California) The Friends of the LAX Dunes (FOLD), a non-profit organization dedicated to restoring the coastal dune habitat at LAX, was recently selected as a recipient of the “Outreach, Education and Community Involvement” Environmental Achievement award from Airports Council International-North America (ACI-NA). The award, which recognizes the joint commitment of Los Angeles World Airports (LAWA) and The Bay Foundation (TBF) to volunteerism and eco-conscious community engagement, was awarded recently at ACI-NA’s “Airports@Work” Conference in New Orleans, LA.
“Outreach, education, and community involvement are all part of LAWA’s strategy of sustaining a strong and responsive organization,” said Samantha Bricker, LAWA’s Deputy Executive Director Environmental Programs Group. “We sincerely thank ACI-NA for recognizing the collective efforts of LAWA, our partners at The Bay Foundation, and the hundreds of volunteers that work tirelessly through FOLD to strengthen the LAX Dunes for generations to come.”
FOLD was founded in 2014 by then high school student and community volunteer Ayanna Neal, in cooperation with LAWA and TBF, as a way to provide the public with opportunities to learn more about the LAX Dunes and participate in its restoration. Today, FOLD hosts monthly events where volunteers can learn how to identify native and non-native dune plant species, as well as how to properly remove non-native plants from targeted areas of the dunes. The dunes are home to over 900 plant and animal species, including the endangered El Segundo Blue Butterfly.
“It has been such a privilege to be part of the Friends of the LAX Dunes (FOLD), to work alongside supportive LAWA staff as well as the thousand plus volunteers who have removed non-native vegetation that inhibits and threatens native dunes flora,” said Rod Abbott, Watershed Programs Coordinator for The Bay Foundation. “Ayanna Neal's mission was to create a sustainable organization dedicated to the enhancement and preservation of the LAX Dunes. This award proves its impact.”
“Starting FOLD gave me an amazing leadership opportunity to make a measurable impact in my community,” said Neal. “It’s really exciting to see the work continue to expand with support from LAX, the FOLD Advisory Board, and The Bay Foundation.”
Since the FOLD program began, there have been more than 58 events, totaling over 1,500 volunteers working in excess of 4,200 hours to restore the LAX Dunes. Those figures include everyday people from all walks of life, including local groups and organizations, schools and businesses who all volunteer their time.
"The ACI-NA Environmental Achievement Awards highlight the leadership of North American airports that are setting an example for the industry by going above and beyond to protect the environment while serving their passengers and communities,” said ACI-NA President and CEO Kevin M. Burke. “We applaud airports and airport authorities like Los Angeles World Airports that have undertaken important work to enhance their communities through innovative approaches to sustainability that leads to economic vitality and operational efficiency."
FOLD volunteer events are normally held on the first Saturday of every month, from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. For more information about the LAX Dunes, including schedule changes, please visit FOLD’s web site at http://www.santamonicabay.org/explore/beaches-dunes-bluffs/lax-dunes/.
If you or your group or business is interested in volunteering time to restore LAX Dunes outside of normally-scheduled events, please contact Nancy Price via email at nprice@lawa.org.
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