By Lookout Staff

April 26, 2011 -- The winners have been announced and now it's time to celebrate the 2011 Sustainable Quality Awards with a feast of fine food and fellowship at the Sheraton Santa Monica Wednesday night.

Keynote speaker Evan Kleiman, host of KCRW's Good Food, will join emcee Sarah Backhouse, host of Discovery Channel's “Planet 100,” and Border Grill's Mary Sue Milliken, as sustainability-savvy institutions are honored by the Santa Monica Chamber of Commerce, Sustainable Works and the City of Santa Monica.

The awards single out local businesses and organizations that have gone the extra mile to preserve the environment and by their efforts have encouraged others to do the same.

“These businesses engage in voluntary practices that generate less waste, conserve energy and water, and reduce traffic and pollution,” said Dean Kubani, director of Santa Monica's Office of Sustainability and the Environment.

“Their above and beyond efforts improve quality of life for residents and workers and help build a strong local economy,” Kubani said.

This year's Sustainable Quality Award Grand Prize is shared by PS #1 Elementary School and LacarGUY.

PS #1 Elementary School incorporates sustainability into its curriculum, student life, physical operations and professional development, creating a holistic model of education and green practices.

LAcarGUY is the number one Hybrid dealer in the world and Toyota Santa Monica, one of its dealerships, is the number one Prius dealer in the world.

MINARC, an architecture and design firm specializing in modular manufacturing and the creative use of materials like cement panels, pebble stones and recycled tires will be awarded the prize for Excellence in Economic Development.

Three winners, Gorman and Miller, Lotus East-West Medical Center and Schaffer's Genuine Foods, share the prize for Excellence in Stewardship of the Environment.

Gorman and Miller, a legal firm, was selected in large part for its paperless practices, including the use of software that lets them file court documents electronically.

The first holistic medical center to achieve Santa Monica Green Business Certification, Lotus East-West Medical Center has made sustainability their guiding principal in their renovation and purchasing choices.

Schaffer's Genuine Foods strives to achieve a zero-waste goal, converting waste oil to biofuel and taking the further step of converting the biofuel byproduct glycerine into hand soaps and lotions.

The winners and those who celebrate with them will be treated to a sustainable chef showcase as

executive chefs Collin Crannell of The Lobster, Nicholas Schipp of Upper West, Alex Moreno of Border Grill and chefs from Locanda del LAGO and Whole Foods Market team up with Farmer's Market purveyors to cater the reception.

Luncheon will be created by Charlie and Kathleen Schaffer with Schaffer’s Genuine Foods and Octavio Sabado of the Sheraton Delfina.

Tickets are $60 for Chamber members and $65 for non-members. Please reserve tickets by calling 310.393.9825 or go to the Chamber of Commerce website.