The Virginia Living Museum has given its highest honor, the Golden Paw Award, to Charlie and Mari Ann Banks of Gloucester for outstanding service to the Newport News museum.

The Banks are co-chairs of the museum’s $5 million capital campaign to add attractions that will increase visitation, grow education programming, update technology and create interactions with nature and the environment that inspire conservation and learning. The campaign, which is still in the major gifts phase, has pledges totaling $3.5 million.

The Banks were also heavily involved in the previous capital campaign to build the new museum building that opened in 2004. Mari Ann was co-chair of the campaign and Charlie, then president of Ferguson Enterprises, launched the campaign in 1998 with a $500,000 gift from Ferguson. The Banks' also hosted a Boots for Bucks fundraiser at their home for the campaign.

“It is an honor to recognize Charlie and Mari Ann for their guidance, leadership, financial support and volunteer efforts on the museum's behalf. They have been dedicated to the museum’s success for many years, even when they were living in England!” said Page Hayhurst, executive director of the museum.

In accepting the award, the Banks talked about why they are so passionate about the museum and its mission of connecting people to nature through educational experiences that promote conservation. Mari Ann praised the passion of the museum’s 400 volunteers who “surpass all kinds of national averages.” Charlie said he became involved in the VLM “because of Mari Ann’s passion. To have 400,000 students come here to fill the holes in their education is a great advantage to this community. I love passion, but you have to give people the tools to use it.”

The award was presented during a dinner Oct. 10 honoring museum supporters. The award is a bronze bobcat statue by Eastern Shore sculptor David Turner.

The museum began giving the Golden Paw Award in 1995 to recognize outstanding service and support of the museum. Past recipients are: Warwick Rotary Club, Junior League of Hampton Roads, the Kelly family, George Goodson, Harry Wason, Mary Sherwood Holt, Cynthia Andrews, James B. (Jake) Thomas, Dr. John Q.A. Mattern II, the Abbitt family, Ferguson Enterprises, Inc. and the city of Newport News.

The Virginia Living Museum is a private non-profit organization that is both a museum and an education center. It is located at 524 J. Clyde Morris Blvd., Newport News.

For more information call 757-595-1900 or visit the web site at www.thevlm.org.

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