Loudoun Laurels Chairman Joe May announced today that J. Hamilton Lambert and Cate Magennis Wyatt will be the 2015 honorees at the Loudoun Laurels Gala October 9th at The River Creek Club.

"We could not be more pleased to honor these two deserving citizens," May explained. "Both J and Cate have made remarkable contributions to Loudoun County and to Virginia. Their committed citizenship is a model for us all to follow and admire. Every citizen in our area benefits from their dedication and vision."

"Both exemplify the characteristics The Loudoun Laurels program was established to search out, recognize and honor," he continued. "Their stories will add immense understanding and depth to the Loudoun Laurels Archive at the Thomas Balch Library. When young citizens and future generations search for role models of stewardship and citizenship, they will turn to the Loudoun Laurels Archive to learn about the lives of exceptional individuals whose dedication ensured that Loudoun County would remain a wonderful place to live and to work in an era of radical growth and rapid change."

J. Hamilton Lambert: In June 1990, after a distinguished career of more than 30 years in government service, honored throughout the state, nationally and internationally, J. Hamilton Lambert entered the world of charitable non-profits as the Executive Director of the Claude Moore Charitable Foundation. Under "J's" leadership the Foundation prospered, earning its own way, by optimizing return on its own assets.

To date the foundation has given away more than three times the total of its original $17 million endowment. In a long list of 2015 grantees, among those most prominent locally are: The Arc of Loudoun, the Boy Scouts of America, the Community Foundation for Northern Virginia, Connect Northern Virginia, ECHO, the Inova Health System Foundation, Loudoun Cares, the Loudoun Education Foundation, The Loudoun Literacy Council, Loudoun Youth Inc, Shenandoah University, UVA and the Smithsonian Institution.

His ongoing work as a provider of advice and counsel to government, business and individuals as President of J. Hamilton Lambert and Associates complements his work with the Foundation in the spirit of promoting the highest levels of financial, cultural, historical and environmental stewardship.

Cate Magennis Wyatt: Waterford's Cate Mcgennis Wyatt is the Founder and President of The Journey Through Hallowed Ground, a non-profit partnership embracing stewards of the land, gardens, buildings, battlefields, culture and history of four states along the path from Jefferson's Monticello, through Loudoun, to the Battleground at Gettysburg. Since 2008 it has been designated by Congress as a National Heritage Area, one of only 49 in the United States, and includes within its bounds nine Presidential homes and sites, 18 National and State Parkes, 57 historic towns and villages, 21 historic homes, hundreds of sites related to the American Civil War, and literally thousands of other historic sites.

Founded in 2005 and headquartered in Loudoun County, the JTHG not only serves to help preserve, protect and defend a 180 mile long corridor of historic, cultural and natural treasures, in cooperation with its partners and the National Park Service it encourages and promotes tourism at its highest and most responsible level. The Journey's education and youth engagement programs are nationally acclaimed.

From an early posting as an intern in the Carter White House, Cate succeeded as a financial manger, one Loudoun's most successful real estate developers, as Virginia Secretary of Commerce and Trade during the governorship of Douglas Wilder, as Chair of the Commonwealth's Defense Conversion Commission, and in the energy business in London, Moscow and Kazakstan.

The annual Loudoun Laurels award ceremony is a high-point of the Northern Virginia philanthropic season with many leading individuals, companies and organizations participating in the gala to support The Loudoun Laurels Stewardship Trust, the education arm of the organization.

Each year, the LLST presents seven $10,000 scholarships to deserving Loudoun County high school students. Six annual scholarships are funded by the May Family Foundation and one is funded by Middleburg Bank in honor of Chairman Joseph Boling. Each scholarship winner receives $10,000 a year for four years if their academic record meets standards.

To reserve tickets to the October 9th Loudoun Laurels Award Ceremony, please visit the website: www.loudounlaurels.org or telephone 703 787 7807.