(Washington, DC) — Partners for Livable Communities honored ten individuals, organizations, and communities from across the country for their stewardship and innovation in the improvement of communities and government. Partners presented the awards at its annual Celebration of Vision and Community Spirit dinner and awards program on Thursday evening, February 6th, at The Fairfax at Embassy Row in Washington, D.C.

For thirty years, Partners has celebrated the leadership of people, institutions, and partnerships that have discovered unique assets that communities can build upon to become a more livable place. Formed by a diverse coalition around a principle that quality of life is a key resource to be capitalized upon, Partners believes the powers and skills of individual citizens are prime resources to build a better future, both business and the civic community have a common interest in ensuring equity and livability, beauty and heritage is a unique asset for long term value, and important institutions can become fulcrums of change to reflect the needs of their communities.

Partners honored Thomas E. Lovejoy, a tropical and conservation biologist; Robert L. Lynch, president and CEO of Americans for the Arts; Bonnie Burnham, president and CEO of the World Monuments Fund; David M. Schwarz, a renowned architect; the Inter-American Foundation; the City of Houston, Texas; Sheena Wright, president and CEO of the United Way of New York City; Henry R. Richmond, co-founder of 1,000 Friends of Oregon; Oehme, van Sweden & Associates Inc., a landscape architecture firm; and Byron Rushing, the Majority Whip in the Massachusetts state House of Representatives.

Peter Harkness, founder and publisher emeritus of Governing magazine, presided as the Master of Ceremonies. Harkness also serves on Partners’ Board of Trustees. William K. Reilly, former administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency, presented the Founders Award for Civic Leadership to its three recipients. Reilly received the Founders Award from Partners in 1988.

Click here to see photos from the event.