The Bay Foundation, an environmental nonprofit group working to restore local coastal waters, named Loyola Marymount University an honoree at its 3rd Annual Coastal Connections fundraiser in late September. LMU was selected based on its impressive and ongoing dedication to coastal environmental issues through academic research, according to Tom Ford, The Bay Foundation’s executive director, who also teaches environmental science courses at the university.
“We really want to thank The Bay Foundation for this honor,” said James Landry, chair of the Department of Health and Human Sciences and director of the Environmental Science Program. “It acknowledges the work that our students, faculty, staff and administration all find very important as we provide service to the local community as well as the environmental community.”
The Frank R. Seaver College of Science and Engineering and The Bay Foundation established the Center for Santa Monica Bay Studies in 2008 to engage in multidisciplinary research on environmental and social issues affecting Santa Monica Bay and its watersheds. The center also contributes to policies and actions that improve the environmental condition of the bay. This successful partnership has produced research studies, student internships, annual symposia and publication of the peer reviewed journal Urban Coast.
“The university is highly supportive of this type of partnership because it increases opportunities for our students to work on real-world projects,” said Thomas Poon, executive vice president and provost at LMU. “The research, internship and volunteer opportunities The Bay Foundation provides all help to broaden the classroom for students and take learning into the community.”
In addition to LMU, The Bay Foundation recognized two other honorees: the film “A Plastic Ocean”, which depicts the global plastic pollution crisis, and the Pasadena and Santa Monica Patagonia stores, which have supported The Bay Foundation via grants and through hundreds of volunteer hours to restore LAX Dunes.
Urchin fisherman Gary Thompson with the LMU crew: Tom Poon, executive vice president and provost, John Dorsey, professor of civil engineering, Jim Landry, chair of the Department of Health and Health Sciences, Pippa Drennan, associate dean of undergraduate studies, John Waggoner, professor of biology. 
Jim Landry and Tom Poon. 
Tom Poon accepts award on behalf of the university 
Tom Ford, The Bay Foundation director, Tom Poon, and Irma Munoz of Mujeres de la Tierra. The LMU awardees 
Honorees, Richard Bloom, CA Assemblymember, Irma Munoz and Tom Ford.
Photos and video courtesy of The Bay Foundation.
