Montpelier, VT – The National Wildlife Federation presented Don Hooper, longtime resident of Brookfield, Vermont with its Charlie Shaw Award, which recognizes individuals who contribute to the organization’s relationships with its state-based affiliates. NWF chose to recognize Hooper, who recently retired as the Northeast Regional Representative, for his 17 years of inspiring work with the region’s affiliates, including the Vermont Natural Resources Council.

Throughout his career at the National Wildlife Federation, Hooper’s conservation successes included a pivotal role in helping the Natural Resources Council of Maine and other organizations advocate to remove dams from the Penobscot River. This recently completed 16 year and $60 million project opened more than 1000 miles of stream habitat to fish such as Atlantic salmon. Hooper also worked tirelessly to build Congressional champions across New England for protecting significant swaths of Alaska such as the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge.

Collin O’Mara, president and chief executive officer of the National Wildlife Federation, presented the award at NWF’s annual meeting in Estes Park, Colorado, and said:

“I have the luxury of working with a lot of talented people at the National Wildlife Federation, but I am hard pressed to think of anyone with the depth of wisdom demonstrated by Don Hooper. His knowledge and sharpness of mind on many subjects, not just conservation or environmental protection, make me consider what it might have been like to talk infamous intellectuals such as Thomas Jefferson. His contributions to NWF will be sorely missed.”

Before his tenure at the National Wildlife Federation, Hooper served as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Botswana, worked in higher education and was Director of Operations for the Vermont Natural Resources Council. He served in the Vermont House of Representatives from 1988–1993 representing Orange County, and as Vermont’s Secretary of State from 1993-1995.

Brian Shupe, Executive Director of the Vermont Natural Resources offered his praise for Hooper:

“Don Hooper leaves a legacy of effective and passionate advocacy for conserving environmental resources across New England, but his home state of Vermont has arguably benefited the most. Don’s leadership during his tenure at Vermont Natural Resources Council, while serving in the Statehouse and at the National Wildlife Federation, has been invaluable to our efforts to promote clean energy, clean water, healthy forests and strong communities in the Green Mountain State.”

The National Wildlife Federation’s Northeast Regional Office, based in Montpelier, works with state affiliates in New York, New Jersey and all of New England. These affiliates include Environmental Advocates of New York, Environmental Council of Rhode Island, Environmental League of Massachusetts, Connecticut Forests and Parks Association, Natural Resources Council of Maine, New Hampshire Audubon, New Jersey Audubon Society, and Vermont Natural Resources Council.