Sun Valley Forum to honor Maggie Baird with Resilient Leadership Award

The 11th Sun Valley Forum will present its 2026 Resilient Leadership Award to Support + Feed founder Maggie Baird on June 17 in Sun Valley, Idaho, with Carole King presenting. The event also added Microsoft and The Wilderness Society as Platinum Partners and announced new speakers and public film screenings.

Why it matters: - The award puts a national spotlight on climate-and-communities leadership that connects food access, compassion and environmental action. - The Forum is using the honor to frame resilience as a broader strategy for nature, innovation and community impact. - The announcement also signals expanding support from major companies and conservation groups around the 2026 event.

What happened: - The 11th Sun Valley Forum said the 2026 Resilient Leadership Award will go to Maggie Baird, founder of Support + Feed. - Carole King will present the award on Tuesday evening, June 17, at Trail Creek Cabin in Sun Valley, Idaho. - The Forum runs June 15-18, 2026, at Sun Valley Resort in Sun Valley, Idaho. - The Forum is hosted by Christensen Global, a Ketchum-based sustainability advisory firm.

The details: - Support + Feed has reached 41 cities worldwide. - The organization has delivered more than 2.2 million plant-based meals and educational resources to communities in need. - Baird has also worked with Billie Eilish to use music to protect nature and influence music industry supply chains. - The Forum added Microsoft and The Wilderness Society as new Platinum Partners. - The Wilderness Society will host a session at Galena Lodge featuring Benji Backer, founder and CEO of Nature is Nonpartisan, and Matt Lee-Ashley, executive director of Ground Shift. - Matt Lee-Ashley has worked in public service across the White House, the Department of the Interior and Congress. - Woodwell Climate Research Center is returning as a Platinum Partner. - Max Holmes, president and CEO of Woodwell Climate Research Center, said the group wants to highlight the need to restore and conserve rangelands. - Dr. Jennifer Watts will present rangeland research that the Forum says could unlock new climate investment opportunities at scale. - The Forum will offer free public film screenings with filmmaker Q&As. - Scheduled films include RiverNewe’s River of Return, Where the Forest Roars by Kim Frank and Oceania: Journey to the Center. - Registration is available at the 2026 Sun Valley Forum website. - Media registration is available by emailing pamela@christensenglobal.com.

Between the lines: - The Forum is pairing the award announcement with partner and speaker additions to position itself as a convening point for climate, conservation and investment conversations. - The mix of corporate, nonprofit and research partners suggests the event is aiming for cross-sector influence, not just public visibility. - Carole King presenting the award adds cultural reach to a climate-focused recognition.

What’s next: - The award presentation is set for June 17. - Public screenings and forum sessions will run during the June 15-18 gathering. - The Forum said more climate, conservation and investment discussions will unfold around the event agenda.