Contact: Sean Cooley, Communications Manager, 850-999-1030, scooley@audubon.org 

STUART, Fla. (December 12, 2017) – This afternoon, Audubon Florida presented Senate President Joe Negron with the Champion of the Everglades Award for his steadfast leadership in advancing the restoration of America’s Everglades. President Negron led the Florida Senate when Senate Bill 10 (2017), a key Everglades restoration bill, was passed and later signed into law. President Negron accepted the award at his district office today in Stuart, where harmful algae blooms linked to discharges from Lake Okeechobee plagued the community in recent years. 
 
“Audubon Florida has been a strong partner in the ongoing effort to reduce and one day eliminate harmful discharges from Lake Okeechobee that destroy our environment and harm our economy,” said President Negron. “I am honored to receive this award and look forward to working with Audubon in the future as we continue to closely monitor the implementation of Senate Bill 10 and other legislative efforts to restore and protect Florida’s environment and natural resources.”
 
Audubon gives the Champion of the Everglades award to individuals who have gone above and beyond their call of duty to protect Florida’s water and wildlife in the River of Grass. Previous award recipients include Nathaniel Reed and Governor Jeb Bush. 
 
"An incredible victory for this precious ecosystem, President Negron helped secure a much-needed restoration project for America’s Everglades," said Julie Hill-Gabriel, Audubon Florida's deputy director. "His tireless efforts responded to an ecological crisis by garnering support for one of the most important wins for Florida's environment in a decade. We applaud President Negron for his commitment to protecting Florida’s environment for generations to come. It is with great excitement we name President Negron as a Champion of the Everglades."
 
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Click here for downloadable photo. Caption: Senate President Joe Negron accepting Audubon Florida's Champion of the Everglades Award. Left to right: Audubon Florida Everglades Policy Associate Celeste De Palma, Senate President Joe Negron, and Audubon Florida Deputy Director Julie Hill-Gabriel.
 
For more than a century, Audubon has encouraged people to take care of the places that make Florida special. Using science to guide our priorities and birdlife to measure ecosystem health, Audubon advocates for the protection of land, water, and wildlife. Audubon is Florida’s most influential conservation organization and conducts extensive work to protect the Everglades and coastal bird habitats. We manage sanctuaries covering thousands of acres along with two popular nature centers. Audubon promotes stewardship and appreciation of public land and water so people experience and cherish Florida’s natural beauty and wildlife.