LALCV’s 8th Annual Smith-Weiss Environmental Champion Awards were presented yesterday at an L.A. event attended by about 150 environmental and civic leaders from across the county. This year's theme was "Water Works". In past years, LALCV, has honored great individuals and organizations such as Mary Nichols, LA City Council President Eric Garcetti, former Speaker of the State of Assembly Karen Bass, Liberty Hill Foundation, Culver City Councilmember Gary Silbiger, and Tree People to name a few. This year's honorees were State Assemblymember Bob Blumenfield, City of Maywood’s Mayor Ana Rosa Rizo, Vice Mayor Veronica Guardado and Councilmember Felipe Aguirre, and community advocate Surfrider Foundation. The event was held at the Hancock Park home of Marjorie and John Neilson.

Assemblymember Bob Blumenfield. has represented the 40th Assembly District, which includes much of the western San Fernando Valley in Los Angeles, since his 2008 election. He chairs the Budget Committee and is a member of the Water, Parks and Wildlife Committee. Already, his environmental accomplishments in the Assembly include passing meaningful legislation to encourage water conservation, renewable energy, recycling and sustainable transportation. Previously, he worked at the Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy and as District Director for U.S. Rep. Howard Berman. Blumenfield is former member of the LALCV Board.

City of Maywood’s Mayor Ana Rosa Rizo, Vice Mayor Veronica Guardado and Councilmember Felipe Aguirre.For far too long, the people of Maywood were plagued with unresponsive municipal leadership and major environmental problems, including substandard drinking water that often looked more like iced tea. Rizo, Guardado and Aguirre were elected to clean up Maywood, and have already made significant progress. Working with Assembly Speaker John A. Perez, they have acted to improve local drinking water. And they are addressing another chronic local quality-of-life concern by implementing a major tree-planting program.

The Surfrider Foundation was this years' Community Service Honoree. A non-profit grassroots organization with members around the world, the Surfrider Foundation uses activism, public education, policy advocacy and legal savvy to protect the world’s oceans, waves and beaches, Founded in 1984 by a handful of visionary surfers in Malibu, Surfrider now has 50,000 members and 90 chapters around the U.S., plus branches in five other countries. Surfrider’s accomplishments span California and the nation, protecting water quality and coastlines.

Our top sponsor was Bingham McCutchen, with additional high level sponsors including: Clean Energy, Renewable Resources Group and The Boeing Company,AECOM, Amy Fisch Solomon, Better World Group, Fentis Sales Co., the L.A. County Medical Association, Los Angeles County Supervisor Mark Ridley-Thomas and SK Impact.

To provide compostable products and education for guests at the event, LALCV hired Pasadena-based Waste Less Living, an award-winning zero-waste event planning and composting service, whose mission is to minimize waste going into landfills, reduce reliance on plastic products, promote the use of environmental product alternatives and educate consumers about waste issues.

The Los Angeles League of Conservation Voters holds its annual award event each spring as a way to bring supporters together and recognize individuals and organizations that uphold the LALCV mission. LALCV endorses, supports, and helps elect candidates for local public office who promote the conservation of natural resources and a healthy environment throughout Los Angeles County. In its 35-year history, LALCV has helped to elect more than 100 environmental leaders to local offices in Los Angeles County.