National Wildlife Federation invites you to be inspired on May 2, 2013, as we celebrate the accomplishments of our honorees and take a moment to learn how we're "Changing the Forecast for Wildlife."
Find out more about attending the awards ceremony >>
The History of the Connie Awards
In 1936, President Roosevelt called for a North American Wildlife Conference in Washington D.C., during our nation’s most dire economic times. Cartoonist J.N. “Ding” Darling and America’s most passionate conservationists, came together to consider a novel and revolutionary idea based on cooperation and collaboration with a single goal of saving America’s wildlife before it was too late. During this meeting the National Wildlife Federation was formed--an organization that would speak for millions of concerned Americans on behalf of wildlife that had no voice.
After that first banquet, conservation leaders came together many times over the years to celebrate successes and plan for the future.
In 1966, National Wildlife Federation harnessed that energy by organizing the first annual Conservation Achievement Awards Banquet, now famed as the “Connie” Awards--honoring individuals and organizations that have made outstanding contributions to protecting wildlife through education, advocacy, communication and on-the-ground conservation. Previous honorees have included actor Robert Redford, former Vice President Al Gore, former President Jimmy Carter and Bette Midler.
Now, 77 years since our founding, we gather again in the spirit of conservation and bring together some of America’s greatest and most passionate advocates for wildlife to celebrate and honor today’s conservation heroes.
