Conservancy of Southwest Florida honors Lynne and Chip Shotwell as 2022 Eagle Award recipients

FORT MYERS, Fla. - Jan. 20, 2022 - PRLog -- The Conservancy of Southwest Florida has bestowed its highest honor, the Eagle Award, to Lynne and Chip Shotwell. The award was conveyed at the Conservancy's Annual Meeting for members Jan. 18. In addition, five new board members were elected.

The Shotwell's history with the Conservancy dates back to Lynne's father, Elmer Wavering, a boat captain and early supporter of the Conservancy in the 1960s. Through the years, her family became more involved, and Lynne served on the Conservancy's board and chaired the Magic Under the Mangroves event. Lynne was a cabinet member during the Saving Southwest Florida campaign, and she and her husband are invaluable advisors and donors, supporting many projects, including the Shotwell Wavering Family Filter Marsh, the advocacy fund, and a new vehicle for the python research and removal efforts capable of going deep into the swamp. Their son Henley is also involved, co-chairing the RedSnook fishing tournament for three years. The couple also established one of the first-ever endowments that supports policy work at the Conservancy.

"One of the things that the policy department so appreciates about Lynne and Chip is the fact that they are not scared away by a fight," said Nicole Johnson, director of environmental policy for the Conservancy. "They understand that some of the most important issues that the Conservancy engages on might not be easy, and there are going to be battles, but they are behind us and committed to us 100%. Their support ensures that we have the tools and resources we need when we are engaging in some of these difficult battles on the policy front."

The Conservancy's Eagle Award is the highest award presented to the individual or group whose work and actions protect the natural environment and quality of life in Southwest Florida. Past recipients have made their contributions in many ways, including philanthropy, grassroots activism, art and conservation leadership.

About the Conservancy of Southwest Florida:
The Conservancy of Southwest Florida (http://www.conservancy.org/) is a not-for-profit environmental protection organization with a 57-year history focused on issues impacting water, land, wildlife and the future of Collier, Lee, Charlotte, Hendry and Glades counties. The Conservancy accomplishes this mission through the combined efforts of its experts in the areas of environmental science, policy, education and wildlife rehabilitation. The Conservancy of Southwest Florida's world-class Nature Center (http://www.conservancy.org/nature-center) and von Arx Wildlife Hospital (https://conservancy.org/our-work/wildlife-rehabilitation/wildlife-hospital-qa/) are headquartered in Naples, Florida, 1495 Smith Preserve Way (https://www.google.com/maps/place/Smith+Preserve+Way/@26.166139,-81.7899354,17z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m2!3m1!1s0x88dae1edf6906625:0xaff332d727c8252d), south of the Naples Zoo off Goodlette-Frank Road. Learn more about the Conservancy's work and how to support (http://www.conservancy.org/support-us) the quality of life in Southwest Florida www.conservancy.org.