Anne and Constantine-Eristoff will be honored at the 2008 Russel Wright Awards for their extraordinary contributions to environmental conservation. Ms. Sidamon-Eristoff is chairwoman emerita of the American Museum of Natural History and past chair of New York Community Trust, two organizations with continuing traditions of leadership in environmental science and protection. "Connie" Sidamon-Eristoff is an environmental attorney who served as EPA Regional Administrator under William K. Reilly during the senior Bush Administration.

Archival photo of Pete Seeger at a Manitoga picnic ca 1972. In the 1960s and '70s, Wright hosted picnics and dinners at Manitoga to share his ideas of living in harmony with nature and to foster discussion with early environmental leaders such as Rene Dubos, Stuart Udall and Scenic Hudson founder, Franny Reese.

Alex Reese and Alison Spear are co-chairs of the 2008 Russel Wright Awards. Alex continues his family tradition of environmental philanthropy and Alison is a successful architect who employs green and modernist priciples in her practice. Alex's mother, the late Franny Reese, was a Manitoga supporter who received the 2002 Russel Wright Award for her role in the protection of legendary Storm King mountain from industrial devastation.

Lara Deam, founder of Dwell magazine, will receive a 2008 Russel Wright Award for setting a new standard for excellence in communicating both environmental and modernist principles and the creative concepts that reflect Russel Wright Design philosophy.

Archival photo of Rene Dubos, environmentalist and Pulitzer Prize winning author, at a picnic at Manitoga ca 1972. Russel Wright hosted picnics and dinners at his home, Dragon Rock, to foster discussion with early environmental leaders such as Dubos, Stuart Udall, Pete Seeger and Scenic Hudson founder Franny Reese. Pete Seeger tells that it was at a 1972 Dragon Rock where he first met Rene Dubos and heard Dubos' famous epigram, "Think globally, act locally."