Proposed by: a member of Woodside-Atherton Garden Club, Zone XII

Ellen “Ellie” Harvey Kelly’s lifetime of work on behalf of a healthy planet was rooted in her childhood as witness to the encroachment of the suburbs into the Maryland countryside. She was a founder of the Maryland/DC Chapter of The Nature Conservancy (TNC) in 1975, so it is fitting that TNC should be the inaugural recipient of the award established in her memory.

Considered one of the widest-reaching conservation organizations globally, TNC was founded in 1951 in New York. For seven decades, through collaborative and bipartisan effort, it has worked to conserve natural land and water and has saved species and biodiverse ecosystems. TNC has played an active role in the protection of more than 125 million acres of land and 5,000 river miles. TNC works with national and international landowners, communities, cooperatives, businesses, industries, and governments to establish local groups to protect land and water through land trusts, conservation easements, private reserves, and incentives. The nonprofit’s conservation impact extends to all 50 states and 81 countries and territories.

GCA honorary member and 2023 recipient of the J. Sherwood Chalmers Medal, photographer and filmmaker Carlton Ward Jr. writes, “They have implemented innovative strategies that safeguard biodiversity and promote the well-being of communities that rely on natural resources. Their initiatives, ranging from restoring wetlands to protecting forests, showcase a forward-thinking approach to conservation…. Moreover, The Nature Conservancy's dedication to science-based solutions ensures that their interventions are effective and sustainable in the long term.”