PRESS RELEASE
-For Immediate Release-
September 10, 2008

Contact: Brian Gumm, (202) 683-4812, bgumm@ombwatch.org

Marylee Orr Wins Award for Outstanding Public Interest Work in Louisiana

WASHINGTON, Sept. 10, 2008—OMB Watch is pleased to announce that Marylee Orr, Executive Director of the Louisiana Environmental Action Network (LEAN), has won a Public Interest Hall of Fame Award for her outstanding public interest work in Baton Rouge and throughout the state.

The Public Interest Hall of Fame Awards are part of OMB Watch's year-long 25th Anniversary celebration and honor the "unsung heroes" who have made their mark in making the world a better place and will leave an important legacy. Public Interest Hall of Fame Award winners will be recognized at OMB Watch's 25th Anniversary event in Washington, DC, the evening of Sept. 17.

Orr was nominated for the award because of her 22 years of leadership at LEAN. In this time, she has led the organization to empower more than 100 grassroots community organizations and has helped make Louisiana's communities safer, healthier places to live. Orr does this work in the face of great odds, working in what has been described as one of the most environmentally exploited regions in the nation. According to those who work closely with her, Orr's long hours and ability to build bridges among various communities and interests are unparalleled.

Upon learning of the award, Orr said, "I'm speechless. This is so great — it's like an Oscar."

Gary D. Bass, Executive Director of OMB Watch, offered his congratulations. "Marylee's work to reduce emissions and increase the availability of information on toxic chemicals is of utmost importance to the residents of Louisiana, and LEAN's ongoing successes are truly a cause for celebration. Despite vicious attacks from powerful, industry-led special interests, Marylee has fought on, oftentimes putting her work above her own personal safety. Her courage and accomplishments make her an obvious choice for one of seven Public Interest Hall of Fame Awards."

The full list of award winners is available at /files/25th. There were roughly 100 nominees considered for the award. For more information about OMB Watch, see http://www.ombwatch.org/article/archive/250.

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Marylee Orr Bio

Marylee Orr has led LEAN for most of its nineteen years. Orr became an activist when her youngest son was born with a respiratory illness. Prior to working on environmental issues, she was involved with Head Start programs and owned a small business.

Orr is one of the co-founders of LEAN, which was formed in 1986. Orr administers the organization's budget and manages its fundraising efforts through grants and membership development. She coordinates member groups, board, and staff activities. Orr organizes member groups' participation in public hearings, coordinates its media strategies on the local, state, and national level, and serves as the environmental community's voice with local, state, and federal agencies. She organizes events related to issues of LEAN members, coordinates annual conferences for citizens, legislators, and other grass roots organization leaders on topics ranging from health issues to political activism.

Orr was featured in Family Circle Magazine; the Lifetime movie of the week, Taking Back Our Town; and in numerous articles about successful environmental activists. An EPA report credits LEAN and Orr with giving a voice to the people concerned about releases of toxic chemicals from local facilities. Orr attributes her motivation to the constant positive pressure from the members, board, and staff to hold polluting facilities accountable.

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OMB Watch is a nonprofit government watchdog organization dedicated to promoting government accountability, citizen participation in public policy decisions, and the use of fiscal and regulatory policy to serve the public interest