George P. Avery, better known as Buzz, is the founder of the fund.  He grew up in northern New Mexico before moving to Austin to attend the University of Texas.  That is when he fell in love with the hill country with its rolling hills and rivers.  

Buzz came to realize how important protecting the environment was while studying to get his teacher’s certification in World Geography.  Before becoming a teacher for 11 years, Buzz worked with his father, James Avery, in Kerrville, Texas, which furthered his appreciation for the natural areas of central Texas.  After securing a teaching position in Austin, Buzz became active with various environmental groups, particularly the Sierra Club, where he served as an officer for many years.  Additionally, Mr. Avery was appointed to the City of Austin Environmental Board where he served for 11 years, four as chairman. 

Through all these formative years, Buzz traveled throughout Texas, the United States, Central and South America, and Europe experiencing how other cultures in the world managed their environment, for better or worse.  It is through this broad base of experiences that he decided to create a permanent fund to support efforts to preserve and protect the natural environment of Texas for future generations.

EFT advisors are exemplary members of the environmental community in Texas. They provide expertise in the grant evaluation process and guidance throughout the grant making process.

Advisor Spotlights:

Janice Bezanson, Senior Policy Director, Texas Conservation Alliance

Janice Bezanson’s 40-year’s experience protecting rivers, forests, prairies, and other wildlife habitats has led to more than 100,000 acres protected in state and federal wildlife areas. She has successfully organized opposition to damming pristine rivers, saving tens of thousands of acres of bottomland habitat, and promoted funding initiatives for state parks and other wild lands.

Janice’s career with Texas Conservation Alliance, for over twenty years as executive director, has included grassroots organizing, fund-raising, lobbying, media work, outdoor events, and public outreach. A hallmark of her career has been organizing coalitions of often non-traditional allies. She has mentored young conservationists, helped fledgling organizations forge strong leadership, and recruited a host of volunteers, many of whom have gone on to enlist others in conservation.

Barbara L. Dugelby, Ph.D., Executive Director, Wild Basin Creative Research Center

Barbara Dugelby is a conservation scientist and human ecologist with over 30 years of experience working in the US and abroad on multi-stakeholder, science-based conservation planning initiatives, with a special focus on collaborative planning and management involving local communities. Much of her work has focused on engaging indigenous and traditional communities in the development and implementation of protected area networks and conservation strategies aimed at protecting biological diversity, traditional resource use practices, and cultural heritage. She currently serves as the Executive Director of the Wild Basin Creative Research Center and is a Faculty Associate at St. Edward’s University.

Lindsay Loftin

Lindsay’s passions include designing bat and solitary bee friendly habitat gardens and camping in Texas State Parks. Professionally she coordinates volunteers at Zilker Botanical Garden in Austin and she volunteers as a Master Naturalist at the Austin Nature and Science Center. Lindsay holds a Bachelors in Environmental Science from Warren Wilson College and a Masters in Sustainability Studies from Texas State University. She is currently independently researching and describing new species of oak gall wasps with her partner and using iNaturalist to try to see her first ever wild horned lizard.