Russell & Fox Receive SBEP Blue Dolphin Awards

BRADENTON – Sean Russell with the Stow It Don't Throw It Project and Lee Fox, a caregiver for injured wild birds, were honored recently with the Sarasota Bay Estuary Program's Blue Dolphin Awards. The awards were presented at a social hosted by the Citizens Advisory Committee. Russell and Fox join Don and Denise Elliott with the Sunbow Bay Condominium Association as 2013 recipients.

Russell has raised awareness about preventing marine debris and supporting ocean conservation. Fox managed the bird hospital for Save Our Seabirds for many years; she continues rescuing birds from her clinic in Wimauma. The Elliott's were honored for their efforts to create a bay-friendly garden. SBEP provided Bay Partner Grants to support the multi-year project at the their condo development located on Anna Maria Island.

The Blue Dolphin Awards Program was launched in 2012 to acknowledge champions of Sarasota Bay. The inaugural winners included Martha B. King Middle School in Bradenton, Jack Merriam, the former environmental manager for Sarasota County, Anna Maria Island Turtle Watch and Shorebird Monitoring, Raindrop Cisterns, a business providing rainwater harvesting, and Charles Edwards, a long-term volunteer with the SBEP Citizens Advisory Committee.

Sean Russell with SBEP's Mark Alderson and Sara Kane.