Renowned television writer Steve Hely joins MDLT board of directors
For immediate release
July 29, 2022
Contact: Jessica Dacey, Director of Communications
Phone: 760-820-2275
Email: jessica@mdlt.org
Renowned television writer Steve Hely joins MDLT board of directors
Joshua Tree, CA – Television writer and producer and podcast host Steve Hely has been appointed to the board of directors of the Mojave Desert Land Trust (MDLT). Mr Hely has been a writer and producer on some of the biggest comedy shows of the last two decades.
A Harvard graduate, Mr Hely’s writing and production credits include The Office, 30 Rock, American Dad, Veep, and the Late Show with David Letterman. He is the author of two travelogues, The Wonder Trail: True Stories from Los Angeles to the End of the World and The Ridiculous Race: 26,000 miles, 2 Guides, 1 Globe, No Airplanes. His comic novel, How I Became a Famous Novelist, won the James Thurber Prize for American Humor. He has also co-hosted the popular podcast, The Great Debates, since 2014.
Mr Hely has lived part-time in Joshua Tree for the past five years and is a long-time supporter of the Mojave Desert Land Trust’s conservation mission.
“The Mojave Desert Land Trust has such an impressive record in protecting this vital and dynamic ecosystem. It's an honor to get a chance to give back to a region that's given me so much, and to help the MDLT continue their terrific work,” said Mr Hely.
Mr Hely joins MDLT at a time when the organization is doubling down on its efforts to tackle the biodiversity and climate crises facing the California desert. Through a dynamic land acquisition program, MDLT is saving natural habitat that is home to threatened species and serves to sequester carbon. Today, MDLT is one of the leading land trusts in the country, having conserved over 100,000 acres across the California desert and conveyed more tracts of land to the National Park Service than any other nonprofit since 2006.
Mr Hely’s appointment builds on an already accomplished board of directors. The board members are Gwen Barker, business owner and marketing professional, Peter Brooks, Iraq veteran and water expert and executive, Terrysa Guerra, National Political Director at United for Respect, Robyn Helmlinger, law partner at Orrick, Geary Hund, former senior wildlife biologist for US Fish and Wildlife and former MDLT Executive Director, Ron Radziner, renowned architect, Abdel Reid, Co-Founder and Managing Partner of Jacobs and Reid, John Simpson, real estate executive, and Brad Wilson, President and Co-Partner of Ace Hotel Group and Atelier Ace.
“The Mojave Desert Land Trust is honored to have Steve Hely join our board of directors. His keen insights and ability to connect and engage with people will be valuable assets in our work to raise greater awareness of the need to protect the California desert’s natural, cultural, historic, and scenic resource values,” said Kelly Herbinson and Cody Hanford, Joint Executive Directors of the Mojave Desert Land Trust.
The Mojave Desert Land Trust (MDLT) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization with the mission to protect and care for lands with natural, scenic, and cultural value within the Mojave Desert. Since its founding in 2006 the land trust has conserved over 100,000 acres, conveying more tracts of land to the National Park Service in the last decade than any other organization. In addition to acquiring land, the land trust established a seed bank to ensure the preservation of native species. MDLT operates an onsite nursery at its Joshua Tree headquarters which propagates native species for ecosystem restoration. MDLT educates and advocates for the conservation of the desert, involving hundreds of volunteers in our work. For more information, visit mdlt.org.