The Wilderness Society to award its highest conservation honor to two Washingtonians at Seattle event September 28th

The Wilderness Society will present two leaders in conservation, David Bonderman and Rose Letwin, its prestigious Robert Marshall Award at a September 28 ceremony at the Seattle Art Museum. This is the organization’s highest award presented to a private citizen who has never held federal office but has devoted long-term service to and has had a notable influence upon conservation and the fostering of an American land ethic. The event will feature a live performance by Grammy-winning rock artist and Governing Council Member of The Wilderness Society, Dave Matthews.  

The recipients join a distinguished list of conservation leaders spanning decades. The first award was presented to Sigurd F. Olson at a dinner in 1981. Other past recipients include Larry Rockefeller, Margaret Murie, Wallace Stegner, Peggy and Ed Wayburn, E.O. Wilson and Roxanne Quimby. The award is named for Bob Marshall, a visionary leader of the wilderness protection movement, an influential advocate of conservation within the federal government and, in 1935, a co-founder of The Wilderness Society. 

“David and Rose’s dedication to conservation has made lasting impacts for protecting America’s iconic landscapes and ensuring future generations will inherit a planet where nature still thrives and wild spaces are open to everyone,” said The Wilderness Society President Jamie Williams.  

David Bonderman is a passionate champion for conserving America’s public lands. He is chairman and founding partner of private equity firm TPG, co-founder and co-majority owner of the Seattle Kraken, as well as Governing Council Member of The Wilderness Society. In 1995, he created the Bonderman Travel Fellowship at the University of Washington, sponsoring fellows to travel the desert Southwest and the Arctic and supports anti-poaching and wildlife conservation efforts in Africa. Throughout three decades of service to The Wilderness Society as a Governing Council Member, he has demonstrated a profound dedication to sustaining wild places for the betterment of wildlife and communities for generations to come. 

“Throughout decades of tireless efforts – spent in partnership with The Wilderness Society – David has always understood that conservation begins in communities. He has continuously supported these efforts and sought ways to share his influence and connect community vision to DC decision-makers,” said Williams. 

Rose Letwin is the founder, president and sole funder of Wilburforce Foundation, which supports land, water and wildlife conservation efforts in western North America. Under her leadership, Wilburforce Foundation has made a national impact on conservation with its focus on protecting large, connected ecosystems through community-based conservation programs. The foundation has had a profound impact on the work of The Wilderness Society over the last two decades, especially in the Pacific Northwest, the Northern Rockies and Alaska. Since 1991, the foundation has invested over $217 million in science-based conservation solutions and is seen as an international leader in collaborative conservation. Its first grant to The Wilderness Society in 1999 helped create the Wilderness Support Center, a program designed to train and engage grassroots activists. 

“Rose’s leadership has changed the contours of conservation,” said Williams. “Rose’s deep investment in community collaboration has been foundational to the work of conserving large, connected landscapes across the West.” 

The ceremony honoring these two outstanding conservationists is sponsored in part by the Seattle Kraken, the National Hockey League’s newest franchise that debuted in 2021. The 2023-24 NHL season will be the Kraken’s third at Climate Pledge Arena after the franchise’s first playoff run in 2022-23. Visit www.nhl.com/kraken to learn more. 

About The Wilderness Society 

The Wilderness Society is dedicated to uniting people to protect America’s wild places. Since 1935, The Wilderness Society has led the effort to permanently protect nearly 112 million acres of wilderness in 44 states. We have been at the forefront of nearly every major public lands victory. 

For more information, contact The Wilderness Society at newsmedia@tws.org.