Suzie Seerey-Lester and John Seerey-Lester accept the Simon Combes Award in Vancouver.

Suzie Seerey-Lester and John Seerey-Lester accept the Simon Combes Award in Vancouver.

Longtime SKBers Suzie and John Seerey-Lester were recently presented with the Simon Combes Conservation Award during the annual Artists for Conservation (AFC) festival in Vancouver, British Columbia.

The award itself consisted of a bronze sculpture by Peter Gray of South Africa. The award was created in 2005 and named for Simon Combes, an English artist known for doing much to promote conservation in Kenya and beyond. “The event was of particular significance to us because of our friendship with Simon Combes,” said John.

The Seerey-Lesters were honored for their extensive efforts in conservation. Lists of the organizations benefiting from John and Suzie’s attention were noted. Among the many groups John supports are:

World Wildlife Fund
Sierra Club
Dian Fossey Foundation
Jane Goodall, The Jane Goodall Institute
Quail Unlimited
Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation
Conservation Foundation of the Gulf Coast
Friends of the MacArthur Beach State Park
The Audubon Society
Audubon Center for Birds of Prey
Zoological Society of Florida
John received a Commendation from HRH Prince Phillip for his work in conservation
Leigh Yawkey Woodson Art Museum “Birds in Art”
Board Member, The Roger Tory Peterson Institute
Proposed Board Member, Artists for Conservation
Knighted by His Imperial and Royal Highness Archduke Andreas of Austria for contributions to conservation
Marine Turtle Rescue Personnel
The Bennington Art Museum
Artists for Conversation
Peregrine Fund
Maryland Chapter of Quail Unlimited
Kenya Wildlife Fund
National Fish and Wildlife Foundation
Maine Fish and Wildlife Foundation
Yellowstone National Park
Pelican Man’s Bird Sanctuary, Florida
Wildlife and Conservation International of Birmingham, England
National Wildlife Federation
Center of Marine Conservation
Northwood’s Wildlife Rehabilitation Center
Ducks Unlimited Canada
Save our Seabirds Sanctuary
Survival Outreach Sanctuary
Society of Animal Artists

 

Some of the groups Suzie with which Suzie is involved are:

Mote Marine
Licensed by the State of Florida as a Marine Turtle Rescue Personnel
Presidents’ Volunteer Service Award for her work with Mote
Leigh Yawkey Woodson Art Museum “Birds in Art”
The Bennington Art Museum “Art and the Animal Kingdom”
Artists for Conservation
The Ocean Foundation
Center of Marine Conservation
Coos Bay Art Museum
The Roger Tory Peterson Institute
The Audubon Society
The National Zoo, Washington, D.C.
Honolulu Zoo
Society of Animal Artists
Save our Seabirds Sanctuary
Survival Outreach Sanctuary
Pelican Man’s Bird Sanctuary
Jane Goodall, The Jane Goodall Institute
Conservation Foundation of the Gulf Coast
Friends of MacArthur Beach State Park
Zoological Society of Florida