Valley Forward Association

Valley Forward’s 40th Annual Luncheon in December 2009 will celebrate the organization’s milestone anniversary and history of environmental stewardship, recognizing its accomplishments and facilitating the election of its Board of Directors. Leadership Awards will be presented to those who have made significant contrib...utions to the organization and founding members of Valley Forward will be commemorated. This signature event typically draws upwards of 700 community leaders. Our renowned keynote speakers have included:

- Jamie Clarke, adventurist and author
- Jared Diamond, Pulitzer Prize winning author, scientist and professor.
- Larry Winget, a Pitbull of professional development and best-selling author.
- Erin Brockovich, an environmentalist whose life was featured in a movie.
- Jeff Corwin, of Animal Planet
- David Breashears; mountaineer and IMAX film producer
- Bruce Babbitt, former Secretary of the Interior and Arizona Governor
- Dr. Mae Jemison, the first female astronaut of color
- Robert Kennedy, Jr., attorney and Riverkeeper

Two of the highest regarded voices of the political scene, “liberal” Bob Beckel and “conservative” Cal Thomas delivered the keynote address at the 2008 event. The duo, authors the syndicated USA Today column Common Ground, which is also the name of their live political analyst program. Despite differing opinions on almost every subject imaginable, the goal of Common Ground is to show audiences and Americans that bridges can be forged between differences, and armaments can be made.
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Valley Forward’s 29th Annual Environmental Excellence Awards program will be held on September 12, 2009. We will recognize outstanding contributions to the quality of life and sustainability of our region in an awards gala attended by nearly 800 business and civic leaders, including local, state and federal dignitarie...s.

Design professionals, property owners, municipalities, corporations, educators, artists, environmental consultants and others eagerly seek Valley Forward’s Environmental Excellence Awards. Winners in the program are featured in a Valleywide traveling display exhibited in high traffic public facilities throughout the year. The event is spotlighted in a comprehensive publicity campaign that typically includes coverage in The Arizona Republic, Tribune Newspapers, The Business Journal and Arizona Business Magazine.
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Valley Forward will host its sixth annual Livability Summit on April 16, 2009 at the Phoenix Convention Center. This prominent Earth Day event is a conference on building healthy communities and targets the Valley’s business and political leadership while also featuring a component for students. Our agenda promotes int...egrated solutions for sustainable development, focusing on such issues as land use and open space planning, water management, renewable energy and transportation/air quality. These topics are addressed through local panels, exhibits and nationally renowned keynote speakers.

Last year’s rosters included a dialogue with Chicago Mayor Richard Daley and Phoenix Mayor Phil Gordon, as well as keynotes by former U.S. Surgeon General Richard Carmona, Steve Curwood of National Public Radio’s “Living on Earth” and Wellington Reiter, then Dean of the College of Design at Arizona State University. Read More