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Robert and Patricia Switzer Foundation Announces Switzer Environmental Fellowships and Grants for 2009

BELFAST, Maine, Aug. 14 /PRNewswire/ -- The Robert and Patricia Switzer Foundation, a 23-year old environmental foundation, today announced the selection of 20 new Switzer Fellows and nine new Switzer Foundation Grant recipients.

2009 SWITZER FELLOWSHIPS

Twenty leading environmental scholars were recently chosen from universities in California and New England to receive the Switzer Fellowship, which is one of the nation's most prestigious academic awards for early-career environmental leaders. Each year, at least 20 promising environmental leaders are awarded $15,000 each from the Robert & Patricia Switzer Foundation to complete masters and doctoral degrees to advance their skills and develop their expertise to address critical environmental challenges.

Switzer Foundation Executive Director Lissa Widoff adds: "The heart of the Switzer Foundation is about supporting and recognizing environmental leadership, and there is an historical need for environmental leaders to step up and shape the future of environmental science, policy and study. Our Fellows are responding to that need. At a time when endowments are challenged, we are pleased to continue as planned with our funding cycles for grants and fellowships."

The 2009 Switzer Fellows are:

California: Carolina Balazs , Colleen Callahan, Alexa Engelman, Catherine Hare, Ayana Johnson, Derek Lemoine, Michael Marshall, Randy Turner, Mehana Vaughan, Glenn Yeck

Massachusetts: Amy Clipp, Jason Jay, Amanda Martinez, Matthew Orosz, Tierra Smiley Wilson

Connecticut: Lisa Hummon, Frances Moore, Kathryn Theiss

New Hampshire: Thomas Morrison

Maine: Brenda Zollitsch

2009 SWITZER LEADERSHIP GRANT RECIPIENTS

Children & Nature Network, Santa Fe, NM and Switzer Fellow Sara St. Antoine - $30,000

Environmental Investigation Agency, Inc., Washington, D.C. and Switzer Fellow Andrea Johnson - $30,000

Silicon Valley Toxics Coalition, San Jose, CA and Switzer Fellow Dustin Mulvaney - $25,000

Solar Energy International, Carbondale, CO and Switzer Fellow Alex Eaton - $30,500

UC Berkeley Center for Occupational and Environmental Health, Berkeley, CA and Switzer Fellow Michael P. Wilson - $40,000

Pinchot Institute for Conservation, Washington, D.C. and Switzer Fellow Amy Rogers - $20,000

Maine Department of Conservation, Bureau of Parks and Lands, Augusta, ME and Switzer Fellow Misha Mytar - $40,000

Hubbard Brook Research Foundation, Hanover, NH and Switzer Fellow Will Yandik - $11,666

American Museum of Natural History, New York, NY and Switzer Fellow Jennifer O'Leary - $38,980

In addition, the Foundation gave two grants totaling $45,000 under its Collaborative Initiatives Fund. This program provides funds to facilitate collaboration among Switzer Fellows and this year grantees are:

UC Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz, CA and Switzer Fellows Dr. Myra Finkelstein and Dr. Katherine Smith - $40,000

Aurora Lights, Morgantown, WV and Switzer Fellows Jennifer Osha Evan Hansen - $5,000

More information on the 2009 class of Switzer Fellows, and the Fellowship program, and grant recipients is available on the Foundation website at http://www.switzernetwork.org/fellowships.taf.

The Robert and Patricia Switzer Foundation is a results-driven family foundation that invests in individuals and organizations that drive positive environmental change. Founded in 1986 the Foundation is a grantmaking organization that mobilizes leaders from diverse disciplines who focus on integrated solutions to environmental problems. Through the Switzer Environmental Fellowship Program and related grants, the Foundation supports a network of 450 Fellows who are leaders in nonprofit, public policy, business, academic and government sectors working to solve today's environmental challenges.

SOURCE The Robert and Patricia Switzer Foundation