On Wednesday evening, June 28, the Green Sports Alliance presented its annual Environmental Leadership Award to Jack Groh of Warwick, director of the National Football League Environmental Program.

Under Groh’s leadership, the Super Bowl is now recognized as one of the greenest professional sports events in the United States. Groh also oversees greening for the NFL Pro Bowl and the NFL Draft.

The Environmental Leadership Award is awarded to someone who has demonstrated extraordinary leadership: their contribution to environmental sustainability is so influential that it spurs innovation at the team, venue, league, or with fans – and in so doing, advances the entire sports and sustainability movement.

Groh recalls it started back in 1993 with a successful recycling effort for Super Bowl XXVII at the Georgia Dome. Building on that success, he sought another project, and then kept going.

“Once we felt we had a good handle on a particular project and its impact,” he said, “we would add another” – about every three seasons or so. That strategy of building to success, then adding new projects, has proven remarkable in its results: under Groh’s vision and leadership, the NFL now has six major initiatives underway, each carrying a number of important sub-projects.

“The NFL has been a leader and major innovator in event sustainability across all professional sports leagues for 25 years and we are committed to push forward each year,” said Groh. “We have developed environmental projects to address the impact of large-scale sports events and to leave a permanent, green legacy in every host community. During all these years, the NFL has never wavered in its support.”

The award presentation is the marquis event of the Alliance’s Green Sports Celebration, part of its annual Green Sports Summit. The awards, now in their sixth year, recognize and celebrate the best in sports and sustainability. The Sacramento Kings and their LEED Platinum-certified Golden 1 Center played host.