Foundation News

TSCF Director Mike Richter Receives Well-Deserved Recognition

 

In a recent article published on Grist.org, author Yessenia Funes profiles TSCF board member Mike Richter for his accomplishments in sports and the environmental field. For 14 seasons, Mike played as a goalie in the National Hockey League, leading the New York Rangers to a Stanley Cup in 1994 and becoming inducted into the U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame. After retiring in 2003, Mike has been committed to climate solutions and environmental protection.

Mike is a founding partner and CEO at Healthy Planet Partners (HPP), which finances and manages clean energy technologies for sports facilities, such as the Peoria Sports Complex where the Seattle Mariners do spring training, and other commercial buildings. He tells Grist, “Financing is really a win-win-win. It’s good for us, good for the client we’re doing business with, and it’s fantastic for the community in which we’re doing the work.”

Inspired by the Adirondack Mountains in his senior year of high school, Mike joined the Adirondacks Land Trust to help protect the landscape. He is happy to see the Adirondacks today looking much the same as they did 30 years ago. Mike’s work to curb climate change and protect America’s wild places brought him to join The Sierra Club Foundation Board of Directors in 2011.

In his interview with Grist, Mike expresses his hope to see more athletes use their influence to spread awareness of environmental issues and share solutions with fans. For athletes, who are conscious about their personal health, he makes the connection that they should be equally concerned with environmental health. “Whether you’re an environmentalist or not, most people think that it’s about the trees and the birds and the fish, but it’s about humans,” says Mike. “It’s about our health, our quality of life.”

We are honored to have Mike as a tireless advocate for the environment on our Board and congratulate him on this well-deserved recognition. 

 

Category: News and Updates