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Honoree Receives Audubon/Toyota TogetherGreen Fellowship

New York, NY - A Barstow, California man is the recipient of a new national fellowship designed to advance the work of individuals with outstanding potential to help shape a brighter environmental future.

David Lamfrom is one of only 40 people selected from competitors nationwide for the TogetherGreen Conservation Leadership Program, part of a new conservation initiative of the National Audubon Society with support from Toyota.  Fellows receive specialized training in conservation planning and execution, the chance to work and share best practices with gifted conservation professionals, and assistance with project outreach and evaluation.  Each Fellow will also receive $10,000 towards a community-focused project to engage local residents in conserving land, water and energy, and contributing to greater environmental health.

For his fellowship, Lamfrom will focus his efforts on providing ecological and photographic training to 15 students focusing on Desert Tortoise ecology. Students will take educational seminars that teach them about this threatened species, as well as give them on-the-job photography skills. The students' photographs will then be published in a book with proceeds supporting further Desert Tortoise conservation action. By providing youth from the High Desert Communities with opportunities to experience the California Desert, its biological diversity, and its cultural, natural and historical importance, Lamfrom hopes to serve as a mentor for the next generation of environmental stewards.

A California Desert Field Representative for the National Parks Conservation Association, Lamfrom has been involved in conservation efforts for seven years. He has proven himself to be a dedicated educator and community organizer. Lamfrom has provided education on reptiles and amphibians to the National Park Service to increase awareness of their plight and their ecological importance. He has also spoken, as a minority role-model, to high school science students to make them aware of environmental career opportunities. And he has helped to organize campaigns against external threats to Mojave National Preserve. All of these experiences make Lamfrom the perfect person to lead an environmental education program for kids.

"David is the kind of person who can make a real difference in the health of our environment and the quality of our future," said Audubon President John Flicker.  "Each of our TogetherGreen Fellows demonstrates exceptional environmental understanding and commitment, combined with tremendous potential to inspire and lead others. Together, they represent the talented and diverse leadership the environmental community will need to tackle the huge challenges and opportunities confronting us now and in the years to come."

"I am humbled and honored to receive this amazing opportunity," said Lamfrom.  "This program will provide students with the tools they need to incorporate the arts and sciences towards a tangible and meaningful conservation outcome.  The photographic book will raise the profile and awareness of the plight of a California Desert icon - the threatened Desert Tortoise."

Lamfrom has been affiliated with the National Parks Conservation Association since March 2008.  Half of the TogetherGreen fellows come from within Audubon's far-reaching national network; half channel their environmental efforts through other organizations.

Lamfrom received a Bachelors degree from New College of Florida, and has worked for institutions such as Alabama A&M University and Mississippi State University.  In addition to his other duties, Lamfrom is a Certified Indoor Environmentalist, certified by the American Indoor Air Quality Council.  He has published three articles focused on reptiles and conservation, and is an accomplished wildlife photographer.

"Toyota believes in the power of grassroots efforts to develop the environmental leaders of tomorrow," said Patricia Salas Pineda, Group Vice President, Toyota Motor North America. "These 40 TogetherGreen Fellows will receive invaluable training for the future while immediately making a difference today with on-the-ground community projects."

A complete list of the 2008 TogetherGreen fellows can be found here.

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About TogetherGreen
Audubon and Toyota launched the five-year TogetherGreen initiative in spring, 2008 to fund conservation projects, train environmental leaders, and offer volunteer and individual action opportunities that significantly benefit the environment. As of October, volunteer days have begun in 40, tallying in excess of 11,000 volunteer hours.  Funding totaling $1.4 million was recently awarded to innovative conservation projects nationwide, while www.TogetherGreen.org helps users take individual conservation action and share and celebrate success stories. The TogetherGreen initiative and grants programs are funded by a $20 million Toyota gift to Audubon, the largest in the conservation group's long history.

About Audubon
Now in its second century, Audubon connects people with birds, nature and the environment that supports us all. Our national network of community-based nature centers, chapters, scientific, education, and advocacy programs engages millions of people from all walks of life in conservation action to protect and restore the natural world. To visit Audubon online, please click here.

About Toyota
Toyota (NYSE: TM) established operations in the United States in 1957 and currently operates 10 manufacturing plants, with another under construction in Mississippi. Toyota is committed to being a good corporate citizen in the communities where it does business and believes in supporting programs with long-term sustainable results. Through its corporate initiatives, manufacturing operations and philanthropy, Toyota supports numerous organizations across the country, focusing on education, the environment and safety. In 2007, Toyota contributed more than $56 million to philanthropic programs in the U.S. For more information on Toyota's commitment to improving communities nationwide, please click here.