San Francisco: The Sierra Club, Project 3650.org and Pecos Pictures won this year's "National Public Service Announcement/Broadband" Emmy Award for the "Big Fun with Global Warming" cartoon released online earlier this year.

The National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences awarded the Emmy at its "Humanitarian, Public and Community Service Emmy Awards" ceremony on Nov. 9. The cartoon was created by Mark Greene of Pecos Pictures and was presented in cooperation with Project 3650.org.

"Big Fun with Global Warming" was the first of two cartoons by Pecos Pictures licensed by the Sierra Club to share information about the impact of global warming. In "Big Fun with Global Warming," the character 'Stinky' learns that the average American produces five tons of carbon pollution every year -- which is equivalent to the weight of 10 Steinway grand pianos.

A highly committed group of individual and corporate investors will provide the funding necessary to transform Bearfire Resort from schematic drawings to reality.

Former House Majority Leader Dick Armey is an advisor to the project and assists in identifying equity investors.

"Not only will Bearfire Resort be a huge economic boost to North Texas, but its innovative approach may prove to be a trend-setter for other cities around the country looking for ways to spur their local economies," said Armey.

Wendell, Gene, and Evan Jacobson of The Jacobson Group of Management Solutions, Inc. (MSI) will oversee the financing aspect of the Bearfire Resort including the organizing of the debt instruments and the equity funding. The Jacobsons have nearly 30 years of history in the Texas real estate market and are experienced in putting together large real estate transactions. MSI, one of their property management companies, has corporate offices in Dallas and in Utah.

National Geographic Adventure magazine has chosen Andrew Skurka, 26, as 2007 Adventurer of the Year for his epic seven-month, 6,875-mile hike through the American West to call attention to its magnificent landscape and the environmental and ecological threats affecting it. His first-of-its-kind journey took him through five major mountain ranges, 12 national parks and 75 wilderness areas. The magazine is also honoring British entrepreneur Sir Richard Branson and polar explorer Will Steger with Best of Adventure awards for Lifetime Achievement.

The achievements of Skurka, Branson, Steger and 14 other adventurers are highlighted in the December 2007/January 2008 issue of National Geographic Adventure (on newsstands Nov. 27), which features the most outstanding accomplishments for 2007 in the world of exploration, conservation and humanitarian work.

The 2006 Adventurers of the Year, Colin Angus and Julie Wafaei, who completed a two-year, human-powered circumnavigation of the world, will present the 2007 award to Skurka on Thursday, Nov. 15, at a gala event at National Geographic Society headquarters in Washington, D.C. The evening will be emceed by Boyd Matson, host of the new "National Geographic Weekend" radio program and the public television series "Wild Chronicles." He will present awards to Steger and 11 other adventure heroes.