The 2013 Commonwealth Awards and Mark C. Schneider Friend of Pennsylvania Award—

Honoring the Commonwealth’s Smart Growth Projects and former Governor Tom Ridge

10,000 Friends of Pennsylvania is once again presenting its signature program, the Commonwealth Awards, to honor and celebrate great projects and the people who make them happen.  10,000 Friends is the leading statewide voice for great places to live and work.  As the leading advocate for responsible land use, we work with citizens, organizations, and public officials to create land use, infrastructure, and governance policies, projects, and practices that protect our resources, strengthen our economy, and improve our quality of life.  We support local and state government agencies, regional and community leaders, private firms and practitioners working to preserve or build great places.  

Please join us and our title sponsor, PNC Bank, in recognizing the impact of “Smart Growth” projects from across the state and celebrating the accomplishments of the 43^rd Governor of Pennsylvania, Thomas J. Ridge.

The Mark C. Schneider award, formerly known simply as the “Friend of Pennsylvania” award, is 10,000 Friends’ highest honor.  The award, which honors the exemplary service and contributions of our late friend and Board Chairman, is exclusive—only seven have been awarded since the Commonwealth Awards began in 2003.  The Mark C. Schneider Award is given “In Recognition of Exemplary and Outstanding Contributions to Policies and Projects that Advance the Vision and Mission of 10,000 Friends to Improve the Quality of Life for all Pennsylvanians through Responsible and Efficient Land Use.” 

This year’s recipient is former Governor Thomas J. Ridge.  Among the landmark achievements of Governor Ridge’s gubernatorial administration were the creation of the 21^st Century Environment Commission, the Interagency Land Use Team, the Growing Greener initiative and the successful Growing Greener I voter referendum, and numerous departmental initiatives to preserve open space and green space, promote sound land use, and reinvest programmatically in existing communities.  As his administration advanced environmental and “green” initiatives before they were commonplace and commonly accepted, please join us in honoring the leadership, vision, commitment, and dedication Gov. Ridge has shown through a lifetime of service in government, as an elected official, and in the private sector to the cause of protecting and preserving Pennsylvania’s natural resources, promoting responsible land use, and revitalizing our existing communities

A reception will follow the project and personal Awards program.

Registration form and information can be found here.