FOR
IMMEDIATE RELEASE
SOUTHFACE
PRESENTS ANNUAL ARGON AWARD TO
CALLAWAY
GARDENS
ATLANTA
(April 30, 2007) — The prestigious Argon Award
for Success in Sustainability was presented to longtime
conservation organization Callaway Gardens on Thursday
evening, March 21 at the ninth annual Visionary Dinner.
The Argon Award, presented by Atlanta environmental
nonprofit Southface, is given to a Georgia-based business
leader or institution in recognition of a significant
commitment to environmental stewardship.
The Argon Award committee, comprised
of leaders in the business and environmental communities,
chose Callaway Gardens to receive the 2007 Argon Award
for its generations-long dedication to the environment
and for recently adopting sustainable construction and
operational practices for its built environment. “ Callaway
Gardens is a truly visionary organization,” says Southface
Executive Director, Dennis Creech. “Continuing the inspiration
from its founders, Cason and Virginia Callaway, Callaway
Gardens has exhibited a dedication to the land for generations.
By pursuing EarthCraft House™ and LEED ™ certification
for the homes and resort buildings, they are constructing
they are protecting the environment for generations
in the future.”
The Visionary Dinner, where
the Argon Award is presented, is hosted by Southface
and the Metro Atlanta Chamber of Commerce. Ray Anderson
of Interface received the inaugural Argon Award in 2000,
and Sam Williams, President of the Metro Atlanta Chamber
of Commerce accepted the award in 2005. Other awards
have been presented to Emory University; Arthur Blank,
The Home Depot; R. E. “Ted” Turner, The Turner Foundation;
Jim Jacoby, Atlantic Station/Jacoby Development; and
Pam Sessions, Hedgewood Properties.
The 2007 award winner Callaway Gardens
has a long-standing history of conservation. Looking
forward, Callaway Gardens, under the leadership of grandson
Edward C. Callaway, and their partners have made a commitment
to building their most recent as well as their future
structures in a manner that is both sustainable and
complementary to the land they have protected for almost
a century. Following a long-standing Callaway tradition,
the focus is on protecting the environment.
In their residential community, Longleaf
at Callaway Gardens, a joint venture with Cousins Properties
and Pine Mountain Builders, every home is an EarthCraft
House™, which helps to assure these are healthy, comfortable
homes that reduce energy use and protect the environment.
Longleaf was also an EarthCraft Community pilot development
and Callaway will to continue to pursue EarthCraft Communities
certification in their upcoming residential developments.
Along
with their EarthCraft communities, their commercial
building projects for the Callaway Gardens Resort are
green. All commercial building projects at Callaway
gardens since 2002, including the Lodge and Conference
Center and the Day Butterfly Center remodel, are LEED
certified buildings. The result is that Callaway practices
environmental sustainability as the underlying principle
for their entire operation.
“Callaway Gardens ' commitment to environmental education
and our mission of integrating man and nature in a way
that benefits both radiates through everything we do,”
said Edward Callaway , “from small things such as the
type of cups we use on property to oversight of the
entire 13,000 acres, including 2,507 acres in a conservation
easement. Leading by example is part of our mission
and receiving the Argon Award is recognition that we
are hitting the target. We can't express how much we
appreciate this recognition. Even more, we appreciate
Southface Institute's leadership in teaching us how
to build green buildings and green communities. They
have cut years off our learning curve and helped us
to find not only green methods of development, but profitably
green methods of development. Their leadership has been
invaluable.”
Following this year's Argon Award
presentation, Quayle Hodek, President of Renewable Choice
Energy, delivered a keynote address focused on engaging
the business community to help reduce climate change.
The Visionary Dinner also featured a five-course meal
and wine pairings provided by Whole Foods Market, the
Whole Foods Market Chefs Panel and Fetzer Vineyards.
About
Southface
Since
1978, Southface has encouraged responsible solutions
for environmental living. Driven by the Southeast's
growing need to save energy and water and preserve our
natural resources, Southface has successfully fostered
unique partnerships with public, private and nonprofit
organizations. Southface programs and publications reach
business and civic leaders, design and construction
professionals, homeowners, government officials and
others to promote sustainable homes, workplaces and
communities through education, research, advocacy and
technical assistance. For
more information about Southface, visit www.southface.org.
About
Callaway Gardens
Callaway
Gardens ®, a premier travel and meeting destination
in the South, is owned by the non-profit Ida Cason Callaway
Foundation™ (ICCF). Within the 13,000 acres of Callaway
Gardens is a preserve, a resort, almost 100,000 square
feet of meeting space, 931 guest rooms, restaurants,
shops, golf, tennis, fishing, shooting club, gardens,
butterfly conservatory, horticultural center, chapel,
inland beach, nature trails, and most recently, a community
in a garden setting created in a joint venture with
Cousins Properties and Pine Mountain Builders. For more
than 50 years Callaway Gardens has provided “a place
of relaxation, inspiration and a better understanding
of the living world” for millions of visitors. Callaway
Gardens is committed to its mission of environmental
education and land stewardship for the benefit of
future generations.Callaway
Gardens® is in Pine Mountain, Ga., 60 minutes southwest
of Atlanta and 30 minutes north of Columbus. For additional
information, call 1-800-CALLAWAY (225-5292) or visit
www.callawaygardens.com.
#
# #
|
