Introductory Comments for Judy Wicks

Introduced by Rob Sanders (The Reinvestment Fund)

The final winner tonight is an “Individual” and the award celebrates lifetime achievement.  Our honoree is an internationally-recognized leader in developing a sustainable local food system through responsible business practices.  24 years ago, our winner founded one of Philadelphia’s best-loved restaurants, which buys its meat, poultry and eggs from small family farms where animals are raised humanely, buys its fish and seafood from sustainable fisheries, and its fruits and vegetables in season from local organic farms.

To replicate this model, our awardee started the Fair Food Project to encourage other local restaurants to adopt these same sustainable business practices and to support local small farms. This leader was the first Pennsylvania business owner to buy 100% wind-generated electricity.

Our awardee likes to “use good food [and fun!] to lure innocent customers into social activism,” by hosting “Table Talks,” and organizing community service days and community tours of sustainable agriculture and development practices.

Over the past 20 years, this visionary business person has bridged a deep concern for improved human understanding at both the global and local levels by instituting an international sister restaurant program called “Table for Six Billion, Please,” and by supporting minority-owned restaurants here in Philadelphia and Camden.

Here’s a favorite quote of mine, from our awardee:  “Being a humanitarian is not simply about giving to the needy, but rather about how we spend our purchasing dollar during our normal business day…. My business is really a way of expressing my love of life.”

Quickly, here are some other “firsts” of our awardee:  Our winner founded:

• the Sustainable Business Network of Greater Philadelphia;
• Co-founded the Business Alliance for Local Living Economies;
• Served as the former Chair of the Social Venture Network (a business association that supports socially responsible entrepreneurs);
• And created the White Dog Café Foundation.

Up until that last affiliation, you may have thought I was announcing Ben Franklin as our winner tonight!  But no!  Tonight I present to you this year’s final Philadelphia Sustainability Award winner for lifetime achievement – our own Judy Wicks!

Here with us tonight are two people who have collaborated with Judy Wicks over the years to help build the vision of a local, living economy.  Corrine Bradley-Powers is the owner of Corrine’s Place, a wonderful restaurant in Camden not far from the Walt Whitman Cultural Center.  And Mark Dornstreich owns Branch Creek Farm in Bucks County, where he grows organic vegetables and greens for many of our finest restaurants and farmers markets.

I would like to bring both of them up right now to say just a few words about Judy and her work.

In order to expand on our understanding of Judy’s amazing work, we have invited two individuals who will speak to her impact on others and her dedication to her philosophy.  I would  like to invite to the stage Corinne Bradley-Powers owner of a “sister” restaurant” Corinne’s located on Haddon Avenue in Camden New Jersey, and Mark Dornstreich a farmer in Bucks County who has been supplying the White Dog and numerous other area restaurants for years.