Kentucky Environmental Lawyer receives $250,000 award from Heinz Foundation

Tom is a great, committed person who really deserves this award.

FRANKFORT — Kentucky environmentalist Tom FitzGerald might be able to get a new pair of shoes with the $250,000 cash award coming his way.

FitzGerald, who wears scruffy shoes during state legislative sessions and vows not to shine them unless lawmakers do something good for the environment, is one of five national recipients of this year's Heinz Awards.

The awards are given by The Heinz Family Foundation, chaired by Teresa Heinz Kerry, wife of Massachusetts U.S. Sen. John Kerry. They are in memory of her first husband, the late U.S. Sen. John Heinz of Pennsylvania.

"I am simply floored by this," said FitzGerald, whose non-profit agency, Kentucky Resources Council, is not known for a wealth of funds.

http://www.kentucky.com/181/story/517820.html

http://www.kyrc.org/