FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 17, 2007

Charles River Conservancy Volunteers Honored

The Charles River Conservancy recognized 17 volunteer group leaders at the Publick Theatre Thursday, July 5th, who stand out among the over 2500 volunteers who rolled up their sleeves over the past year in an ongoing effort to make the parklands surrounding the Charles River from the mouth of the river to the Watertown Dam more attractive, accessible and safe.

Volunteers from organizations such as Friends of Mt. Auburn Cemetery, Bank of America, Cambridge Rindge and Latin School, Match School, MIT Sea Grant, Northeastern University American Society of Civil Engineers and Timberland were recognized for projects such as the annual Charles River Clean Up, bench painting, and embankment and erosion restoration projects. In April, Stewardship Program Manager Evan Moss oversaw over 600 volunteers along the Cambridge shores of what was the largest Earth Day clean-up in the country.

The Conservancy's stewardship volunteer program started in 2002 and has brought over 8500 people of all ages to the parklands, with the amount of yearly volunteers doubling each year since 2004.

Moss plans year-round events with diverse groups such as corporations Archimex, Arup Consulting, Novartis, Timberland and also runs the Service Learning Program which serves programs such as Summerbridge, Write Boston Youth Enrichment Services and schools such as the Beacon Academy, Cambridge Rindge and Latin, Match School, Excel Academy, Prospect Hill Academy and the Winsor School.

The event was held at the outdoor Publick Theatre in Allston, where recently brush was cut back so now the majestic Charles River can be seen once again and is the backdrop for the performance on the stage. After the ceremony, all attendees were invited to stay for the opening performance of George Bernard Shaw's Misalliance. Diego Arciniegas, Artistic Director of the Publick Theater said of the Charles River Conservancy stewardship program, “We've had a relationship with the Conservancy for the past three years and the work they do is phenomenal. It allows us to open up the playing area to the natural world all around us and makes room for the big ideas of the plays we do.”

The Charles River Conservancy founder and President Renata von Tscharner said volunteering on the parklands is a way for people to feel a part of the ownership and stewardship of the parklands. Von Tscharner said participants benefit by spending a day out on the parklands in this urban band of blue and green.

Betsy Shure-Gross, the Director of the Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs, said the parklands belong to all residents of the greater Boston area who enjoy them as she accepted her award. The beauty of this urban green space is that everyone can have their own unique relationship with the parklands.

For more information or to learn more about volunteering, please contact Stewardship Program Manager Evan Moss at 617-619-2853 or edm@thecharles.com or visit our website at www.thecharles.org.

Betsy Shure-Gross of Brookline (left) and Ethel Woodard of the Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs accept an award presented by The Charles River Conservancy's Stewardship Program Manager Evan Moss in a recognition event held at the Publick Theater.		Marsh USA's Linda Calla (left), Betty Redstone (center) and Christine Conway (right) with The Charles River Conservancy's Stewardship Program Manager Evan Moss at the volunteer recognition event at the Publick Theatre. Marsh USA with offices on Clarendon Street has brought volunteers to work on the parklands every September 11th since 2002.

Further Contacts:

Evan Moss
Stewardship Program Manager
One Education Street
Cambridge, MA 02141
(617) 619-2853
edm@thecharles.org

Diego Arciniegas
Artistic Director
The Publick Theatre, Inc.
233 Needham Street, Suite 300
Newton, MA 02464-1502
(617) 454-1444

Susanne Nitter
Producing Director
The Publick Theatre, Inc.
233 Needham Street, Suite 300
Newton, MA 02464-1502
(617) 454-1444

Renata von Tscharner
President
Charles River Conservancy
1 Education Street
Cambridge, Ma 02141
(617) 619-2851
rvt@thecharles.org

Betsy Shure-Gross
Executive Director
Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs
Office of Public Private Partnerships
100 Cambridge Street, Suite 900
Boston, MA 02114
(617) 626-4917