2023 Party for the Planet Recap
Couldn’t make it to our Party for the Planet this year? Here we recap what you may have missed, including award recipients, turnout, and more. We hope you’ll be able to join us next year!
Our 2023 Party for the Planet was huge success, with over 300 people in attendance, 12 climate leadership awards presented, 17 partner organization tables, and food and drink provided by our wonderful vendors. We had a blast celebrating successful climate action with the people and organizations who make it possible!
12 Businesses, Nonprofits, and Individuals Receive Climate Leadership Awards!
On October 6, we recognized 12 community leaders for their hard work towards climate action. This year, we added the Climate Champion award, allowing us to recognize one additional organization or individual. Below you’ll find a list of our 12 selected climate leaders for 2023, how they’re making a difference in our community, and what they would like you to know.
Business
Excellence in Energy Efficiency: University of Virginia Community Credit Union
The University of Virginia Community Credit Union has come roaring out of the gate since joining C3’s Green Business Alliance (GBA) in the spring. They hired a new facility manager who was quick to make meaningful improvements, optimizing controls and making simple, low-cost fixes. In just five months since joining the GBA, they have slashed the footprint of their Charlottesville area facilities, cutting their electric usage by 15% and gas usage by a whopping 40%!
Joe Raichel, Chief Lending Officer for UVA Community Credit Union, says: “We could not be more thrilled to receive the “Excellence in Energy Efficiency” Award! Since joining the Green Business Alliance, C3 has worked with us to find ways to reduce our carbon footprint – and our utility bills. What could be better than some green savings and making our local environment cleaner? A big thank you to C3 and our own team members who helped make this happen.”
Top Climate Innovator Award: Hourigan
Hourigan helped transform Charlottesville’s built environment by leading construction and sustainability efforts on two landmark projects, Apex Plaza and the CODE Building. Apex Plaza includes almost 900 solar panels, a green roof, and industry-leading energy efficiency, and is the tallest mass timber structure on the east coast! CODE, or the Center of Developing Entrepreneurs, gained LEED Platinum certification this spring, a lofty sustainability achievement which has only been matched by a handful of buildings in the Commonwealth.
Mike Castle, Vice President of Hourigan, says: “Apex Plaza and the Center for Developing Entrepreneurs embody the purpose and mission of the Hourigan Group—as we passionately shape tomorrow, today. We are proud to be a part of the journey in creating greener, more sustainable spaces that are in harmony with nature and enhance all communities.”
Carbon Crackdown Award: Piedmont CASA
Piedmont CASA received technical support from C3 as part of our Climate Services program. After getting their free energy audit and carbon footprint, they went straight to work installing HVAC upgrades, new LED lighting, and replacing the old gas-fired lights on their facade with new solar fixtures. The results were fantastic - a 20% reduction in their carbon footprint, including gas savings of over 40%!
Kate Duvall, President and CEO of Piedmont CASA, says: “At Piedmont CASA, our vision is to create a community where every child is able to thrive in a safe, healthy, and loving home. As part of that vision, we must also protect their future by taking care of our planet. We are grateful for the support of C3 in helping us to take these steps.”
Climate Champion Award: Trevor Saunders & The Center
Trevor has developed a weekly practice of optimizing the building’s control systems in just 30 minutes every Monday morning. Through this simple practice, he has cut his organization’s carbon footprint in half over the past 12 months, not only slashing emissions but saving thousands of dollars for their mission to promote healthy aging in our community!
Trevor Saunders, Facility Manager at The Center, says: “For The Center, one of the key determinants of healthy aging is environmental wellness, including living sustainably, caring for our communities, and hosting programs that bring people into the natural environment. When The new Center was being planned, our community supported us to construct a building that prioritized the environment and sustainability, which resulted in substantially reduced energy costs and wonderful outdoor spaces that offer additional ways to positively impact community health.”
Youth
Outstanding Educator: John Trossi (Charlottesville City Schools)
John Trossi involved fifth graders at Walker Upper Elementary School in more than just experiencing C3’s Climate Activity Kits. He brought student leaders out to unload, deliver, and learn about the Climate Kits so they could help their peers.
John Trossi, Science Teacher with Charlottesville City Schools, says: “I am grateful for the opportunities I have each day to talk about cool science concepts with my students and inspire them to want more for themselves and our world. The climate obviously has such a huge impact on everyone's quality of life around the world. Since my goal as a teacher is to improve the current and future quality of life for my students, it stands to reason that helping my students understand the importance of taking care of our planet is high on my priority list.”
Youth EmPowerment Award: Light House Studio
Light House Studio has been a consistent partner with C3 all year, bringing climate learning to students and schools in our community and helping them to express their concerns about the impacts of climate change and solutions they want to embrace through film.
Will Goss, Education Director at Light House Studio, says: “We are very honored to receive the 2023 Youth EmPowerment Award. In collaborating with C3 over the past year, we've been able to offer workshops to area youth that broaden their understanding of our climate and how to affect change. Our students' creativity and passion to make their world a better place inspires the work we do.”
Youth Climate Champion: Amanda Bilchick
Amanda has been active in fighting climate change at home as a founder of the local chapter of the Sunrise Movement, at school as president of the Earth Warriors, and as a teen intern with C3.
Amanda Bilchick, high school student at Albemarle County Schools, says: “I am so grateful to be receiving this award and for environmental organizations like C3 that are creating change. I believe it is critical for youth in our community to advocate for action on the climate crisis, and I hope more young people join the effort. I have been passionate about protecting the environment from a young age, because I want to preserve our beautiful planet for future generations.”
Individual
Impact Maker: Teri Strother
Teri has worked to make Charlottesville a more sustainable community for decades. She founded the non-profit Better World Betty, served on Albemarle County’s Solid Waste Advisory Committee, and was C3’s founding staff member helping to grow the organization from a single employee to a staff of nine serving multiple localities. Teri has also taken action in her own life, by adding rooftop solar, purchasing second-hand, and switching her vehicle to electric!
Teri Strother, Founder of Better World Betty, says: "I feel honored to be recognized by such an amazing group of changemakers within C3! My vision for change back in 2008 as Better World Betty came to fruition through passion and persistence, but would not have been remotely possible without the support of other leading advocates and organizations across this community – showing that when we harness the collective will, support of others, and believe in a better world with time it does grow and flourish!"
Climate Justice
Energy Equity Award: FLIPP, Inc.
FLIPP Inc. is dedicated to ensuring the future workforce is inclusive and equitable. As the only NABCEP certified training program in Virginia, this recipient prioritizes training for BIPOC and formerly incarcerated individuals. They were also the recent recipient of a $1.9 million grant from the US Department of Labor.
Raye Elliott, Executive Director for FLIPP, Inc., says: "We are honored and humbled to receive the 2023 Energy Equity Award from the Community Climate Collaborative. This award is a testament to the hard work and dedication of our team and community partners, and it motivates us to continue working together to create a more just and sustainable future for all."
Transit Mover and Shaker Award: Impact Interfaith Coalition
IMPACT has advocated for affordable housing and improved transit systems in Charlottesville. They have been an important ally in our Zero-Emission Bus Campaign, meeting with City Councilors and printing campaign t-shirts.
Matteo Carter, Steering Committee, IMPACT Care for Creation, says: "We are honored to be working with such a dedicated partner on an issue of such grave community concern. We look forward to keeping this relationship strong even through shifting political and spiritual climates, because care for the Earth must come first."
Climate Justice Advocate Award: Piedmont Housing Alliance
Piedmont Housing Alliance is at the forefront of directly creating better housing and advocating to ensure that Charlottesville becomes a community where everyone can afford to live. Their recent redevelopment of Kindlewood (formerly known as Friendship Court) incorporated sustainability and climate resiliency throughout the resident-led redevelopment effort — a model that should be emulated everywhere.
Sunshine Mathon, Executive Director of Piedmont Housing Alliance, says: “We are deeply honored to be acknowledged for what we believe is vital work in our community. Too often, lower income families are left out of climate-related planning efforts even though these families are the ones who bear the brunt of current and future climate change impacts and are the ones that have the least resources to respond. We see our housing justice work to be intimately interconnected with addressing climate justice challenges.”
Community Changemaker Award: City of Charlottesville Climate Program Staff
The City’s Climate Team facilitated the passage of a Climate Action Plan, launched a Climate Resiliency planning initiative in collaboration with Albemarle County and UVA, distributed climate activity kits to public schools, and are leading the City’s conversion to LED street lights. Their team is growing as the City Council approved the addition of two new climate positions along with more than $3 million of investments to improve our transit system.
Emily Irvine, Climate Protection Program Manager with the City of Charlottesville, says: “With the adoption of the Climate Action Plan and the shift into implementation, it’s been a big year for the City’s Climate Program. We are so grateful for the recognition and for all the wonderful partners working with us towards our community climate goals. Let’s keep going!”