About Laura Turner Seydel

Like many conservationists, Laura Turner Seydel traces her passion for eco-awareness back to her upbringing and family environment. Her father, CNN founder Ted Turner, has long been an outspoken advocate for and investor in the future of the Earth. But for Seydel, he was also an important role model.

“I have a dad who ‘walks the talk,’ and he has passed that on to his children,” Seydel says. She remembers him driving a Toyota Corolla during the oil embargo of the 1970s to conserve gas. The family also kept their thermostat set low to conserve energy, weeded the yard by hand instead of using chemicals and picking up bottles and cans along side the road to subsidize our allowance.

Laura grew up taking an active role in eco-issues from leading environmental voting initiatives to finding new ways to protect the Chattahoochee River.  It’s no surprise that environmental philanthropy is a priority for Laura. From simple measures such as teaching Girl Scout Troops composting techniques to creating a number of environmental non-profit organizations, Laura serves as an inspiration to others wondering how we can make a difference.

As a national environmental activist and eco-living expert, Laura’s mission is to educate families, youth and individuals alike about the opportunities and benefits of earth-friendly living.

Her many leadership responsibilities include: 

• Chairman of the Captain Planet Foundation, a partner program to the highly successful environmentally focused Saturday morning cartoon, Captain Planet and the Planeteers. The Captain Planet Foundation acts as a national educational conduit to provide funds to groups conducting environmental projects with elementary, middle, and high school students. Projects funded by The Captain Planet Foundation have impacted over 625,000 youth around the world from a wide variety of socioeconomic and ethnic backgrounds.

• Co-founder of Upper Chattahoochee Riverkeeper Fund. In 1993, Laura and her husband, Rutherford Seydel, founded the Upper Chattahoochee Riverkeeper Fund, an environmental advocacy group that works to raise public awareness of issues related to the Chattahoochee River and secure measurable improvements in its health. Laura has guided Riverkeeper’s fundraising efforts from its inception and has served as a key advisor to the organization in policy-making and strategic planning.
  

• Co-founder of Mothers & Others for Clean Air. In 2004, Laura helped create Mothers & Others for Clean Air to raise awareness about the link between asthma and air pollution. The organization gives mothers access to vital information concerning the effects of air pollution, allowing them to make informed decisions about how to protect themselves and their children. 
  

Laura is active on the boards of many other local and national groups including: Georgia Conservation Voters; The Nature Conservancy; The High Museum of Art; Atlanta Boy’s Choir; Council for Western Rivers; Defenders of Wildlife; Ron Clark Academy; Metro Atlanta Chamber of Commerce; Southern Environmental Law Center; Atlanta Ballet; Oglethorpe University and The League of Conservation Voters Education Fund.

Laura is a Trustee of the Turner Foundation, a private family environmental grantmaking foundation created in 1990. In her capacity as Trustee, she is involved in all aspects of the Foundation’s operations, from reviewing funding requests and establishing policy to identifying funding priorities and overseeing special initiatives. Laura is also a Trustee of the Jane Smith Turner Foundation, a private family grantmaking foundation, whose funding priorities include the arts, children’s health and education and the environment.

Most recently, when their Atlanta home was damaged in a storm, Laura and Rutherford decided to rebuild using the most earth-friendly products and technologies available. Their home called “EcoManor” is the first residence in the Southeast to be certified by the U.S. Green Building Council’s LEED program (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design), the national benchmark for sustainable building. The Seydels are using their home as a teaching tool, a showcase for the type of technology and mindset it will take to create a more sustainable world.

A Georgia native, born in Macon, Laura holds a Bachelor of Arts from Oglethorpe University. In 1997, Laura was awarded the Conservationist of the Year Award from the Georgia Wildlife Federation and was selected as one of ten Outstanding Young Atlantans. In 2003 Laura and her husband Rutherford were presented the Distinguished Conservationist Award from The Georgia Conservancy.

Laura resides in Atlanta with her husband, Rutherford and their three children, John R, 14, Vasser, 13 and Laura Elizabeth, 10.

For more information about Laura, please visit: www.lauraseydel.com.