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SUMMARY:The O'Brien Prize for Refuge Friends
DESCRIPTION:An Opportunity For Your Refuge Friends Group\nEach year the National Wildlife Refuge Association awards the O’Brien Prize to very deserving Refuge Friends organizations. The prize is named after Donal O’Brien III\, a past Board Chair and longtime enthusiast of the National Wildlife Refuge System. Don was a generous supporter of the great work we do for national wildlife refuges and was always very impressed by the dedication and effectiveness of Refuge Friends groups. \n2026 RFP is Available!\nThe National Wildlife Refuge Association is pleased to announce our seventh O’Brien Prize. This prize is a grant that will be awarded to one or more Refuge Friends groups whose project(s) will help build their connection with their community. This application will be used to determine which Friends group(s) will receive the grant(s). Please submit a request for any amount up to $7\,500. \nProjects must: (1) heighten the public awareness of the Friends Group\, (2) bring an enduring value to the Friends Group and bring benefit to the refuge\, and (3) the prize money must cover the full or nearly full cost of the project. \nProposals are due Friday\, May 30th\, 2026. Please submit your applications and direct any questions to Courtney Phelan at cphelan@refugeassociation.org or 202-577-3200. \nClick here to download the application!
URL:https://coalitionofrefugefriends.com/event/the-obrien-prize-for-refuge-friends/
CATEGORIES:Grant
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DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20260501
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20260602
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SUMMARY:2026 National Wildlife Refuge Awards!
DESCRIPTION:For more than 50 years\, the National Wildlife Refuge Association has worked to protect\, promote\, and enhance the National Wildlife Refuge System. We are continually inspired by the people whose dedication\, leadership\, and care make conservation possible every day. \nThat’s why we’re excited to open nominations for the\n2026 National Wildlife Refuge Awards! \nEach year\, these awards recognize outstanding individuals and groups who go above and beyond for national wildlife refuges\, whether as a dedicated refuge manager\, an exceptional employee\, a committed volunteer\, an inspiring Refuge Friends group\, or a steadfast advocate. \nNominate Someone Today \nNominations are now open\, and the deadline to submit your nominations is Monday\, June 1st\, 2026. Award recipients will be announced in August 2026 and celebrated at the 2026 National Wildlife Refuge Awards ceremony and celebration. \nPreviously submitted nominations may be updated and resubmitted. If you know someone who has been nominated before but not selected\, we encourage you to nominate them again. \nVisit our website to learn more about the award categories\, nomination criteria\, and inspiring stories of past winners >> \nAs we look forward to this year’s awards\, we invite you to help lift up the people and groups whose passion and care are protecting wild places\, nurturing wildlife\, and strengthening the communities that are deeply connected to our national wildlife refuges. Nominate someone deserving today! \nIf you have any questions not covered in our Nomination Guidelines\, please contact Debbie Harwood at dharwood@refugeassociation.org. \nThank you for all you do for national wildlife refuges\, \nThe National Wildlife Refuge Association
URL:https://coalitionofrefugefriends.com/event/2026-national-wildlife-refuge-awards/
CATEGORIES:Event
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DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260506T140000
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DTSTAMP:20260502T035908
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SUMMARY:How You Can Advocate for the Refuge System This Spring
DESCRIPTION:Join Desirée Sorenson-Groves\, President & CEO of the Refuge Association\, for a timely advocacy briefing on how supporters can help strengthen the National Wildlife Refuge System this spring. Coming off our Hill visits\, we’ll share key takeaways\, walk through the priorities we’re advancing\, and outline clear next steps you can take right away.\nWe’ll cover: \n\nFederal appropriations for the National Wildlife Refuge System (FY2027 Funding Fact Sheet: https://www.refugeassociation.org/s/FY2027-Funding-Fact-Sheet.pdf)\nThe Legacy Restoration Fund (Great American Outdoors Act) to support habitat restoration and conservation (GAOA Reauthorization Fact Sheet: https://www.refugeassociation.org/s/2026-GAOA-Reauthorization-Fact-Sheet-jgyl.pdf)\nTransportation reauthorization to improve wildlife crossings\, habitat connectivity\, wildlife corridors\, and visitor access (Transportation Bill Fact Sheet: https://www.refugeassociation.org/s/Transportation-Bill-Reauthorization-Fact-Sheet.pdf)\n\nWe’ll close with specific actions you can take to help move these priorities forward\, plus time for Q&A. \nPresenter \n\nDesirée Sorenson-Groves came back to the Refuge Association in October 2024 as the President and CEO. Her career has been focused on protecting and enhancing the National Wildlife Refuge System\, first as a grassroots organizer for the National Audubon Society\, then as the Vice President of Government Affairs for the Refuge Association. After 14 years at NWRA\, Sorenson-Groves became the Director of the Arctic Refuge Defense Campaign where she managed an Indigenous-led\, multi-pronged effort to stop any development in the Arctic Refuge. She comes back to NWRA after leading Defenders of Wildlife’s public and private lands programs as their Vice President of Land & Habitat Conservation. She has a B.A. in Geography from George Washington University and resides in Fort Valley\, VA with her husband and two Chesapeake Bay Retrievers.\n\nSign Up!
URL:https://coalitionofrefugefriends.com/event/how-you-can-advocate-for-the-refuge-system-this-spring/
CATEGORIES:Webinar
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