The Chuck Haugen Conservation Fund (CHCF) has selected the UCSC Arboretum for its 2008 Nonprofit of the Year Award. Arboretum director Daniel Harder accepted the award at the fund's annual picnic on Saturday, June 7.
Joining the CHCF in recognizing the Arboretum's work at the event were state and federal elected officials. The Arboretum received a "Certificate of Recognition" from the California State Assembly, signed by Assemblymember John Laird; and a "Certificate of Special Congressional Recognition" from the U.S. Congress, signed by Congressman Sam Farr.
Based in Marina, CHCF was established by the Monterey Bay Chapter of the California Native Plant Society in 2004. Its mission is to inspire and appreciate volunteers and professionals who contribute to the conservation of the Monterey Bay area ecosystems.
Chuck Haugen was a dedicated conservationist who spent thousands of hours working as a volunteer on native plant restoration efforts in the Monterey Bay area. He died in 2002 after suffering an allergic reaction to yellow jacket stings while engaged in plant restoration work on Bureau of Land Management lands at Fort Ord. The CHCF was created in his memory and now gives awards and small grants to individuals and organizations for their extraordinary efforts and contributions to conservation.
"It's really nice to be recognized by this organization for what we do," Harder said.
The CHCF award recognizes the Arboretum "for nearly 45 years of providing the community of researchers and students, plant enthusiasts and conservationists, a place to learn about plants and conservation issues."
