Frederick A. O. Schwarz Jr. Matt Greenslade @ photo-nyc.com

On December 6, 2007, NRDC honored Frederick A. O. Schwarz Jr., who stepped down as chairman of the board after 17 years of leadership. He will continue to serve as a trustee. At the celebration, Fritz, as he is known to friends, shared some words of inspiration. The following is an excerpt from his speech.

"NRDC is the earth's best defense: for the air we breathe, the water we drink, the wild places we preserve, the wild creatures we protect, and the children whose health we strive to safeguard. But the question remains: Will our generation be the first in human history to knowingly leave the world a worse place for our children? If this happens, it will be a disgrace and an embarrassment.

"Global warming is the greatest threat we face, but it is not the only threat. Even without global warming, too many wild places are disappearing, too many species are being snuffed out, and too many babies are being born with bodies and brains damaged by man-made chemicals and pollution.

"How, then, can our cause prevail? To win, we must capture human passion. In our quest, we have much on our side. Spiritual values are on our side. The children are on our side. But unless we solve global warming, those children will one day ask their parents: Did you really live when there were wild polar bears? We will not despair, for we will couple our passion with steadfast, determined, and intelligent action. NRDC brings together passion and action. We are not summertime soldiers. We fight this battle every day, all year long. We must not let the eyes of our children gaze out upon a vast wasteland. We cannot leave this earth ruined for generations to come. We must change how people think--and how they act. This is our world. Let's take it back."