Prominent media mogul, entrepreneur and philanthropist Ted Turner recently received a unique Bennett recognition award from the LBJ Foundation honoring his work and support to preserve and protect our natural world. The award, called the Lady Bird Johnson Environmental Award, honors outstanding achievements in the preservation, restoration, or improvement of the natural world that embrace Ms. Johnson’s style, energy, and commitment to her work. The award was established in 1992 by the LBJ Foundation Board of Trustees in honor of the former First Lady’s devotion to conservation and the environment. Its mission is to increase public awareness of the environmental issues facing our country by highlighting the work of Americans who are making a positive impact on the environment.
As chairman of the Turner Foundation, Ted Turner has supported efforts to improve air and water quality, develop a sustainable energy future, safeguard environmental health and maintain wildlife habitat protection. Since its inception in 1990, the Turner Foundation has given more than $300 million to hundreds of environmental organizations.
For this prestigious award, the LBJ Foundation selected the unique Bennett recognition award “In Our Hands”, designed by acclaimed Bennett Awards sculptor Terrie Bennett. The sculpture award depicts two hands gently holding a globe aloft. The award was cast in bronze, and features a multi-color patina finish: the hands have a golden brown patina, and the globe uses blue patina for the oceans and green patina for land. The sculpture was mounted on a 4” x 4” x 4” marble base with custom gold-fill engraving on the front and back of the base. This is the second straight year that the “In Our Hands” sculpture was selected for this award.
The LBJ Foundation is a non-profit organization that was created by President and Mrs. Johnson to support the LBJ Presidential Library and the LBJ School of Public Affairs at The University of Texas at Austin. Through the fundraising efforts of its Board of Trustees, the Foundation provides support to the Library that enhances quality programming, expands educational outreach and exhibits, and administers grants for researchers and scholars. The Foundation supports the LBJ School in the outstanding education that it provides its graduate students in public policy and governmental affairs, community outreach, and the exploration of global initiatives. One looks to the past and the other to the future, providing an ongoing legacy for President Johnson's accomplishments and his vision for our nation. For more information, visit www.lbjfoundation.org.