Climate Adaption Center honors five nominees with Beacon Awards

With five nominees who have gone many extra miles to help protect our climate, how do you choose just one winner? Well, you don't — you choose them all — and that is exactly what the Climate Adaptation Center did on Feb. 15 at its luncheon held at Michael's On East.

When the first nominee was awarded and co-host Elizabeth Moore began to thank everyone for coming, she suddenly feigned surprise and announced another winner, and then another until all five nominees were recognized.

David Tomasko, executive director of the Sarasota Bay Estuary Program, environment reporters Jessica Meszaros and Steve Newborn from WUSF Public Media, Marshall Gobuty, founder and managing Partner of Pearl Homes, and Jennifer Rominiecki, president and CEO of Marie Selby Botanical Gardens, each proudly took home the coveted Beacon Award.

A beacon is a light set up in a high or prominent position as a warning, signal, or celebration, and this award embodies the definition. Founded by scientist Bob Bunting, the CAC's mission is to bridge the gap between the latest scientific research and the public's understanding of the changing climate and how it impacts where we live. Together with Founding Director Elizabeth Moore and the CAC's expert staff, it is educating citizens and making a difference in our Florida climate and more through endeavors that include addressing biodiversity, human health, hurricanes, red-tide and sea-level rise.