Audrey Jones, Priscilla Preston & Montravias King
COLUMBIA, S.C. The South Carolina Chapter of the Sierra Club is proud to announce that lifelong Sierra Club member Priscilla Preston, a University of Chapel Hill graduate with over 35 years of extensive experience addressing conservation and environmental justice issues, is one of three honorees nationwide to receive the 2024 National Sierra Club Volunteer Achievement Award.
Priscilla was nominated by Katheleen Kempe, another lifelong Sierran who stated, "Volunteers are the bedrock of our organization." Priscilla was honored and officially received the award at an in-person ceremony on Saturday, September 7, at the South Carolina Sierra Club offices in downtown Columbia. Attorney Ben Mack, Chair of the Sierra Club, states, "Priscilla's dedication and perseverance inspire us all. Hopefully, Sierra Club volunteers nationwide will adopt her efforts with the recognition generated by this prestigious award."
Priscilla, founder and Program Manager of the Greening Project, originally called the Greening Affordable Rental Properties, began in 2020 to address energy efficiency challenges and opportunities, renewable energy, and sustainable (regenerative) gardening. The Greening Project started with a partnership with the co-founder of Columbia Resilience, Anne Burkes, to create the Rosewood Community Garden, a symbol of community-led regenerative gardening that intentionally reduces waste and emissions. The Greening Project has focused on sustainability and regenerative gardening in Columbia and Richland County communities and, most recently, Winnsboro, Fairfield County. Winnsboro is a frontline, energy-burdened community where most citizens pay more than 6% of their incomes on energy bills. And those with severe energy burdens pay as much as 10% of their income on energy bills. Priscilla's efforts in Winnsboro developed through strategic collaboration and partnership with Ms. Tangee Jacobs, community organizer and Sierra Club member.
Last week's awards ceremony was well attended. Advocacy groups and leaders of community-based organizations across the state that have partnered with and supported the work of the Greening Project were there to celebrate Priscilla. State Representative Annie McDaniel, SC House District 41, representing Fairfield County, was also in attendance.
"I am honored to have so many of our supporters and partners join us today, and this is a testament to how many people it takes to respond to the climate crisis by promoting and implementing energy efficiency, renewable energy, and regenerative gardening in disinvested frontline communities. This collective effort is a testament to the unity and shared commitment of all these groups towards a sustainable future," stated Pricilla.
Priscilla will be recognized by Allison Chin, President of the National Sierra Club Board of Trustees, at a remote ceremony on September 17.
"We are proud to honor Priscilla Preston for her tireless dedication to ensuring that frontline communities such as Winnsboro benefit from the historic investments from the Biden-Harris administration. The chapter will continue to engage BIPOC communities across the Palmetto to ensure that Justice 40 is a realization for those that need it the most," Montravias King, Chapter Director.