Includes Items from Harrison Ford, X PRIZE Foundation, Will
Steger & Erik Lindbergh
The Lindbergh
Foundation has announced that Dr. Peter Diamandis, chairman
and chief executive officer of the X PRIZE Foundation, and
Minnesota native and polar explorer Will Steger, will each receive
an honorary 2006 Lindbergh Award at an event to be held at the
Minnesota History Center in St. Paul on Friday evening, May 19 from
6 – 10:30 p.m.
A silent auction of unique and collectible items will be an
exciting feature at this year’s 2006 Lindbergh Award Event. A
few items up for auction include: three items from the movie
“Air Force One” — a poster, VHS video, and a
screening program from the Deauville Film Festival in France
— all signed and donated by 2003 Lindbergh Awardee Harrison
Ford.
Peter Diamandis (shown below, in Zero-G, aboard "G-Force
One"), is sending a specially selected item, and Erik
Lindbergh is donating a one-of a kind wooden “mini”
rocket on a planet-scape base, which he created earlier this
year.
Other items include: Will Steger’s “Stuff
Sacks” used on his International Trans-Antarctica Expedition,
1989-1990; a framed piece from the Ford Tri-motor, which Charles
Lindbergh flew in Mexico and used to give Anne Morrow her first
airplane ride; a variety of items from Patagonia, Inc., a complete
kayak package from Gander Mountain, Minnesota Twins tickets and
memorabilia, Chandelle Winery’s Spirit of St. Louis and
“Tingmissartoq” label wine; and two tickets to the EAA
AirVenture 2006, and much more.
Dr. Peter Diamandis, a pioneer in the development of incentive
prizes, will be recognized for his ability to inspire the brightest
minds on Earth to tackle some of the most pressing issues in the
world today. “A visionary, much like my grandfather, Peter
Diamandis created the X PRIZE Foundation, to change the current
paradigm of space travel,” said Erik Lindbergh (pictured
below), grandson of Charles and Anne Morrow Lindbergh and vice
chairman of the Foundation.
“More recently the X PRIZE Foundation has expanded its
scope to include prizes that will enable radical breakthroughs and
innovative and cost-effective solutions to the great technical,
social and environmental problems of our time.”
Will Steger, who made the first confirmed unsupported trip to
the North Pole with a team of eight people and 50 sled dogs in
1986, will be recognized not only for his numerous polar
expeditions, but also for his deep understanding of the environment
and his efforts to raise awareness of current environmental
threats, especially climate change. In 2007, utilizing the latest
in web and communications technologies, students, educators and
individuals will be able to travel along with Steger as he embarks
upon his next expedition entitled, “To the Ends of the
Earth.”
Another highlight of the evening will be the presentation of the
Foundation’s first corporate award for balance, which will be
presented to Patagonia, Inc. Patagonia will be recognized for its
use of organically produced and recycled materials in its clothing
line and its efforts to reduce its environmental footprint by
incorporating energy-efficient lighting and heating systems and use
of recycled building materials at its facilities. Patagonia uses
technology to solve environmental problems, and believes there is a
strong connection between protecting the environment and successful
business.