About FfOR

Memphis Heritage 2004 Preservation Planning Award

 

On September 23, 2004, at the historic Parkview Hotel, FfOR president Virginia McLean was presented with the Memphis Heritage Preservation Planning Award for 2004. This honor was given "for outstanding efforts to foster historic preservation activities through the use of the urban planning process."  Accompanying Ms. McLean were Board members, Hite McLean, Don Richardson, June West, Jeanne Arthur, John Gary, Susan Caldwell, and Sue A. Williams.

 

Sierra Club Smart Growth Award

Friends for Riverfront received Sierra Club's "Smart Growth" Award in December, 2004. The award was in recognition of FfOR’s plan to protect the harbor and to restore the Public Promenade. The Promenade, which was dedicated by City founders as a public greenway, is currently on the Tennessee Preservation Trust’s "Top Ten" list of most endangered sites.  Board members accompanying Ms. McLean were Jeanne Arthur, Sue A. Williams, and Don Richardson.

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50 Women Who Make A Difference

FfOR president, Virginia McLean, was selected as one of 50 Women Who Make a Difference for 2007. An urban planner by education and author of The Memphis Guide, Virginia was recognized for her involvement in heightening community awareness of Memphis's treasures and as an activist who works tirelessly for the betterment of Memphis and its citizens. With Virginia at the award ceremony on Aug. 27 were FfOR Board members Susan Caldwell, who received the honor in 2006, and husband Hite McLean.

 

Clearwater Award

 

On Oct. 23, 2009, FfOR received the prestigious Clearwater Award given annually by the Waterfront Center of Washington, DC to recognize citizen organizations who support public spaces, unique cultural features, civic pride, sensitivity to the water, economic sustainability and environmental values for their city's waterfront.  FfOR secretary Renee Lartigue and president Virginia McLean traveled to Seattle to accept the Clearwater Award.

 

Garden Club of America’s Zone IX Improvement Award

Friends for Our Riverfront board member, Lisa Snowden, received the prestigious award in 2010 for her significant contribution to conservation in Memphis and for her commitment to good public spaces, clean water and sustainable development.
Lisa has served as president of Memphis Botanic Garden, president of Little Garden Club, and a leading force in the design of our city’s recently opened $5M children’s garden, My Big Backyard.

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Memphis History Award

At the 2011 Shelby County History Awards Dinner, Virginia McLean received an award from Dr. Nick Gotten, president of Descendants of Early Settlers, for FfOR's efforts to protect and preserve Memphis history along the riverfront.  The awards event is sponsored annually by Shelby County Historical Commission, West Tennessee Historical Society, Descendants of Early Settlers, Bartlett Historical Society, Davies Manor Association and the Shelby County Historian. Shelby County Mayor Mark H. Luttrell, Jr. was the keynote speaker at the Aug. 10 awards dinner held at Davies Manor.

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Waterfront Center Jury

 

Friends for Our Riverfront president, Virginia McLean, was invited to serve on the Waterfront Center jury to select the 2012 Excellence in Design award winners. Each submitted project is evaluated in terms of good design; economic feasibility; how well the project fits the individuality, history, and economic climate of its community; participatory planning; environmental sensitivity; and provision of maximum amount of public access to and along a waterfront. Also serving on the jury were: Eric Burchill, executive director, Waterfront Development Corp., Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada; Tim Arntzen, executive director, Port of Kennewick, WA; Mark O. Dawson, principal, Sasaki Associates Inc., Watertown, MA (jury chairman).

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Garden Club of America Awards 

for Design, Preservation & Conservation

 

April 15, 2015 was a heady night for Friends for Our Riverfront. Along with former First Lady Laura Bush and First Lady of TN Crissy Haslam, three FfOR board members received awards from the Garden Club of America.  Three FfOR board members received awards:   Lisa Snowden for Design, Virginia McLean for Preservation, and Jeanne Arthur for Conservation.

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