Honoree Roy Gordon, Philadelphia Water Department, summed it up perfectly when he said: “All of us are here together for a reason!” The Tookany/Tacony-Frankford Watershed Partnership (TTF) recognized Roy as Public Leader of the Year as we joined with 100 attendees to celebrate watershed heroes at our eleventh Annual Watershed Milestones Ceremony last week at Globe Dye Works.
We came together to recognize local individuals and organizations who have supported clean water efforts in the TTF watershed community. These honorees joined a community of over 124 people, organizations, institutions, and businesses that have improved the health of the impaired 30-square-mile watershed we share. Honorees and awards are listed below, as well as a few memorable comments from the evening.
Friend of the TTF Watershed: Frank and Betty Coyle
Friend of the TTF Watershed: Devin Green, Bennett Compost
Educator: Rachel Zibelman-LeSuer of Juniata Park Academy
Corporate Steward: Pixel Parlor
Nonprofit Steward: Stroud Water Research Center
Nonprofit Steward: V.U.R.T. Creative
Evan Lovett of V.U.R.T. Creative shared: “People like Julie and most people in conservation work so hard at a mission with constant obstacles in their way. As creatives, we can lend a little bit of our support in letting everyone know what it is [TTF] is doing by creating art that helps support their mission and goals. This project is one of those things that lets us do that with many other organizations, so thank you for the inspiration.”
Public Leader: Roy Gordon, Philadelphia Water Department
Youth Champion: Ian Capacio
Legacy Award: MyKyah Vessels
The Legacy Award is an honor for someone who “we feel has really made a significant difference in moving us forward with this work. They’ve done a lot of work, made a difference, connected with people, and make us feel like we’re getting somewhere. MyKyah brought together a community of people interested in edible and wild plants, and inspired them through her research, knowledge, and kindness.” – Julie Slavet, TTF Executive Director
“I like being able to give people the knowledge and power to walk into their own land.” – MyKyah Vessels
Read about why we honored these passionate watershed heroes here, and hear what our award winners say about their recognition in our 2022 Milestones video here.
TTF also honored its Partner Alliance members including Essential Utilities, Mom’s Organic Market, REI Co-op, Globe Dye Works, PECO, University of Pennsylvania’s Master of Science in Applied Geosciences, Think Green LLC, AquaReale, Philadelphia Insurance Companies, Pixel Parlor, and many other businesses and organizations that support TTF’s work. We’d like to give a special shoutout to TTF Board Secretary, Tom Johnston for bringing along Brooke Schiavone of Jobsite Products, Inc. to the ceremony as a new Partner Alliance member!
The night began with awardees, partners, and guests networking and eating delightful food before TTF Executive Director, Julie Slavet called everyone’s attention to the moment that we had all been waiting for! Julie honored each watershed hero with remarks about the clean water contribution of each person or organization, and then presented them with their award, as they posed for a photo. Some awardees thanked TTF for our impact on their career!
Milestones featured a week-long Silent Auction which closed at the end of the ceremony. Thank you to all who donated and bid in the auction; a generous donor brought us up to our $5,000 goal! These funds will support clean water work across the TTF watershed. Auction items were beautifully presented on tables inside Globe Dye Works, and delicious menu items were provided by Birchtree Catering.
We couldn’t have such a successful Milestones and auction without our incredible auction item donors: ThinkGreen LLC, Spacious, Stacey Lee Webber, Viva Leaf Tea Products, FarmerJawn, Jen Mastalerz, Cake Life Bake Shop, Virginia Butz & Joanne Dahme, Jay Coreano, Liberty Point & Independence Seaport Museum, Merle Slyhoff Pottery, Adventure Aquarium, Bain’s Deli Camden – Aquarium Loop, Elcy’s Cafe, Bernard Brown, United By Blue, Donna L. Long, PHS: Pennsylvania Horticultural Society, Weavers Way Co-op, Friends of the Wissahickon, Bennett Compost, Glen Foerd, Rebecca Schultz, Dottie Baumgarten of Sustainable Choices, LLC, Fishtown Pickle Project, The Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel University, The Lunar Inn, Fishtown Seafood Company, Perrystead Dairy, Julie Slavet, John Walber, Doryan De Angel and Ryan Neuman.
View photos from the ceremony here.
You can still donate in honor of our watershed heroes! Your donation will support our year-round efforts to renew our creeks and parks. Or you can donate through the TTF website and become a TTF sustainer by making a one-time or monthly donation. Your support makes our critical clean water work possible.
