Say the name Jeremy Grantham, and most financial advisors know he is a well-known investment strategist and institutional money manager who predicted the most recent credit market debacle. Advisors who attended the recent Morningstar conference heard his take on the global economy and "the seven lean years ahead." But in other circles, Grantham is known for his significant support of research on environmental problems and climate change.
He and Hannelore Grantham founded The Grantham Foundation For The Protection of The Environment. Through the foundation they provide $75,000 each year for the Grantham Prize for Excellence in Reporting on the Environment. The 2009 winners, announced July 6, are USA Today reporters Blake Morrison and Brad Heath for their article, "The Smokestack Effect: Toxic Air and America's Schools." The reporting team worked with academic researchers to pool government data on industrial polluters near 127,800 schools. The special project looks at issues such as why children are vulnerable to toxic chemicals and, using the government's own data and modeling software, points to schools which appear to be in toxic hot spots.
The Granthams and The Metcalf Institute for Marine and Environmental Reporting created the environmental reporting prize in 2005. When they first announced the award, the couple commented, "We are living in a world that tragically underestimates environmental problems. Independent and accurate journalism offers great hope in this regard. We believe that this prize will highlight the need for insightful coverage and the awareness such reporting can bring about."