Department Of Interior

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Office of the Secretary
Contact:Joan Moody
For Immediate Release: September 24, 2003
202-208-6416
Secretary Norton Will Honor Take Pride in America Award Winners at Ceremony in Nation's Capital

WASHINGTON-At a ceremony at the Interior Department on Friday, Sept. 26, Secretary of the Interior Gale Norton will present national awards to 15 individuals and groups recognized as model volunteers under the Take Pride in America campaign, which encourages citizen stewardship of public lands and resources.

WHO: Gale Norton, Secretary of the Interior
            Marti Allbright, Executive Director, Take Pride in America
            Award Winners:
            Alaska: Denali Mountaineering Volunteers, Denali National Park
            Arizona: Salt River Tubing and Recreation Inc., Mesa
            Joe and Betty White, volunteers at fish hatchery, Whiteriver
            California: Chico Junior High School, Chico for work at
            Sacramento National Wildlife Refuge Complex
            Venturer Crew 220 - Boys Scouts of America, Van Nuys
            Colorado: Volunteers for Outdoor Colorado, statewide organization
            Mass.: Massachusetts Community Water Watch, Boston
            Michigan: Diane Novakowski, Flint for work at Sleeping Bear Dunes
            National Lakeshore, Empire
            Missouri: Camdenton Middle School 8th Grade, Camdenton
            New York: New York Restoration Project, New York City
            Oregon: SOLV, statewide organization based in Hillsboro
            Penn.: Wally Byam Caravan Club International, Camp Hill
            Pymatuning Lake Association, Espyville
            S. Dakota: Hatchery Helpers, Spearfish
            Wash.: Clay and Dixie Gatchel, Puyallup, for work at Mount Rainier

WHAT: Take Pride in America National Awards

WHEN: Friday, Sept. 26, 2003, 11 a.m. EST, arrive 10:30-10:45 a.m.

WHERE: U.S. Department of the Interior, 18th & C Streets N.W.
Credentialed media report to C Street Entrance and call 208-6416 for escort

WHY: Take Pride in America is a public-private partnership that aims to inspire volunteers to put their love of country to work to improve our parks and other public resources. It is part of President Bush's USA Freedom Corps.


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