Judges
-
Sean Hails
Winemaker, Redwood Creek
As an avid fisherman and scuba diver, Sean Hails pairs his excitement for the outdoors with his passion for winemaking. In college, his outdoor adventures led him to Australia where he balanced his studies of winemaking with backpacking along the coastal cities of Brisbane and Sydney and exploring the Great Barrier Reef. Today, he creates award-winning, single-varietal wines as the Redwood Creek Winemaker in California. When he’s not crafting new vintages for Redwood Creek, Sean often canoes, travels the country, and makes time for his other passion, outdoor photography.
-
Ethan Zohn
Winner, Survivor: Africa
As one of Survivor’s first million dollar winners, Ethan Zohn put his money towards causes close to him. He started the nonprofit organization Grassroot Soccer, which works with professional soccer players to teach African children about HIV/AIDS prevention. In 2009, Ethan was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s Lymphoma, and continued his charity work by becoming an Ambassador for “Stand Up 2 Cancer” and involving himself in Lance Armstrong’s Livestrong Foundation.
A survivor in more ways than one, Ethan’s zest for life and love of the outdoors has translated into his own international television show, EarthTripping, where he profiles eco-friendly travel and adventure around the globe.
-
John Hopper
Winner, 2009 Greater Outdoors Projects (Friends of City Park)
With more than 25 years of nonprofit management experience, John Hopper led New Orleans’ Friends of City Park toward its receipt of the 2009 Greater Outdoors Project $50,000 grant. His past experience includes running the operating foundation at the American Red Cross National Headquarters with a $93 million endowment, serving as the Executive Director of the Young Leadership Council, and overseeing the successful implementation of scores of grants.
He presently serves as the Chief Development Officer and Director of Public Affairs at New Orleans City Park and has been instrumental in raising more than $70 million for the park since the city was devastated by Hurricane Katrina in 2005.