About the Award
Christi Veleta was one of the City of Jacksonville’s most devoted employees for over 30 years. During her tenure she displayed the highest levels of professionalism in her work with the Environmental Protection Board. A common thread throughout her career was a passionate focus on a better quality of life for all the residents of Duval County through environmental education, awareness, and action. She provided unparalleled community service and continuously displayed outstanding initiative.
The Environmental Protection Board established the Christi P. Veleta Environmental Award in recognition of her more than two decades of meritorious service to the people of Duval County, commitment to environmental issues and her devoted protection and preservation of our natural resources. The award recognizes an individual who has exhibited, over a long-term, environmental stewardship, displayed superior environmental initiative, and consistently promotes environmental education and outreach.
Past Winners include:
2010 - Christi P. Veleta
2011 - Mark Middlebrook
2012 - Kevin Songer
2013 - Ron Littlepage
2014 - Dr. Quinton White
2015 - Felicia Boyd
2016 - Lucy Cortese
2017 - Sarah Boren
2018 - Jimmy Orth
2019 - Mark Mummaw
2021 - Anna Dooley
2022 - Melissa Ross
2023 - Dr. Gerry Pinto
Winner Of The 2024 Christi P. Veleta Award
Gloria McNair, is very well known and respected for the work she has done to help Groundwork Jacksonville become one of the premier environmental organizations in the community. Among her many accomplishments:
- Gloria has had a diverse career which has had a true dedication to service.
- She served 22 years with the US Navy holding several positions including Environmental Health Officer.
- She retired to Jacksonville and joined the Florida Department of Health as an educator and preventive health advocate.
- She joined Groundwork Jacksonville in 2018 and has led the charge of working with residents of the historically underserved urban neighborhoods around Hogan and McCoys Creeks and the Emerald Trail.
- One of her efforts has been the creation of the Community Restoration Environmental Stewardship Training (CREST) program in the McCoys Creek neighborhoods. The program trains residents to be environmental stewards with workshops, creek clean-ups and field trips.