January 7, 2002
Contact: Y. Armando Nieto, EDC: 805-963-1622

EVENT TO HONOR LOCAL HEROES ERIN BROCKOVICH AND ED MASRY
Victory for the Environment Celebration on Feb. 2nd to Benefit the Environmental Defense Center

VENTURA - At a celebration on Saturday, February 2nd, EDC will honor local heroes Erin Brockovich and Ed Masry for their impressive work to fight for environmental health and justice, and for their commitment to Ventura County's environment and quality of life. The event, including a dinner and live auction, will be held at the North Ranch Country Club in Westlake Village (4761 Valley Spring Drive) at 6:30 pm. Proceeds from the event will directly support EDC's work as a nonprofit public interest environmental law firm to protect our Central Coast environment.

The Victory for the Environment event will kick off a year-long celebration of EDC's 25th Anniversary. Debby Davison, Anchor for KEYT Channel 3, will be the Master of Ceremonies for the event. Actor Bill Paxton, who starred in such monumental films as Apollo 13 and Titanic, will serve as the event's Honorary Host. Members of the Host Committee include U.S. Senator Barbara Boxer, Congressman Brad Sherman, California Coastal Commissioner Pedro Nava, Thousand Oaks City Council Member Linda Parks, Ventura City Council Member Brian Brennan, Moorpark City Council Member Dr. Roseann Mikos, Yvon and Malinda Chouinard, Roma and Bill Armbrust, Jean Harris, Pat Weinberger, and many others.
Ventura County's own Ed Masry and Erin Brockovich, determined to fight for justice, successfully brought a small town to its feet and a huge corporation to its knees. The health of countless people who lived in and around Hinkley, California had been devastated by exposure to toxic Chromium 6, which had leaked into the groundwater from the nearby Pacific Gas and Electric Company's (PG&E) station. In 1996, as a result of the largest direct action lawsuit of its kind spearheaded by Brockovich and Masry, PG&E was required to pay out $333 million in damages to more than 600 Hinkley residents, the largest legal settlement in U.S. history. Masry and Brockovich's efforts, the subject of the recent motion picture starring Albert Finney and Julia Roberts, are a triumph for justice and the environment.

Since 1977, EDC has been serving California's Central Coast as the only nonprofit, public interest environmental law firm between Los Angeles and San Francisco. EDC represents citizen groups in court and before governmental agencies, provides legal counsel and advice, and offers educational opportunities to the community on issues involving water quality/watersheds, biodiversity/endangered species, environmental health and justice, land use and open space, offshore oil and gas, and access to public lands. By purchasing tickets, patrons will be directly supporting EDC's work to guard public and environmental health, protect imperiled species, restore water quality, and protect key open spaces.

Please RSVP by January 18, 2002. For sponsorship and advertising information, tickets and reservations, please call the Environmental Defense Center at (805) 963-1622.