SAN FRANCISCO, Sept. 27, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ — Who’s responsible for some of America’s most creative environmental victories, such as building the largest urban farm in post-Katrina New Orleans, creating sustainable investments through surfing, and even greening the Girl Scouts? Young people who have yet to celebrate their 23rd birthdays.

On October 18, from 7:30-9:00 p.m. at the Herbst Theater in San Francisco, Earth Island Institute will bestow the 2011 Brower Youth Award to seven of North America‘s boldest young environmental leaders in a ceremony with up to 900 people in attendance. The 2011 prize recipients are:

• Victor Davila, 17, of New York, who is teaching environmental and health education through skateboarding;
• Alexander Epstein, 20, of Pennsylvania, for empowering communities in New Orleans and Philadelphia to develop sustainably;
• Tania Pulido, 21, of California, for nourishing her community through urban gardening;
• Junior Walk, 21, of West Virginia, for challenging the coal industry in his Appalachian community;
• Rhiannon Tomtishen and Madison Vorva, 15 and 16, of Michigan, for lobbying the Girl Scouts to green their iconic cookies;
• Kyle Thiermann, 21, of California, whose surf videos have created millions of dollars in environmentally responsible investments.

More information about the 2011 Award recipients — including biographies, videos, and photographs — is available at www.broweryouthawards.org.

The 2011 winners were selected from among hundreds of applicants. The winners distinguished themselves with their creative and effective work tackling problems ranging from energy use to environmental education, stewardship to conservation. The eight judges for the award are leaders in business, journalism and academia, including Dr. Vandana Shiva, author, environmentalist, and advocate for women in developing nations; May Boeve, Executive Director of the climate campaign 350.org; and Paul Hawken, environmentalist, entrepreneur, and author of four national bestsellers.

Over the past 12 years, 74 Brower Youth Award recipients have raised more than $2 million for environmental causes, involved more than 50,000 people in green projects, implemented 20 university-wide environmental policies, passed eight pieces of legislation, produced nearly three dozen documentary films, and held more than 500 lobbying meetings with elected officials.

The Brower Youth Awards are run by Earth Island Institute, a non-profit, public interest, membership organization that supports people who are creating solutions to protect our shared planet. www.earthisland.org.

SOURCE Earth Island Institute