A local business owner, educator and artist, Donald Schnell is deeply committed to preserving the environment in the US Virgin Islands. He is one of the founders of Gifft Hill School and his Donald Schnell Studio has been a St. John fixture for 48 years. He is dedicated to providing jobs in the community and also participates in the senatorial summer youth program. Schnell is a vocal proponent of recycling and encourages guests of his Artistic Villas to keep their stay “plastic free,” including supplying triple-filtered drinking water to discourage plastic water bottles. Composting is promoted through the provision of bins for organic food scraps. Glass is collected from guests as well as local restaurants for Schnell’s artwork, which he crushes himself. He and his wife Deborah are environmental advocates and champion the cause through their philanthropy, sharing their intellectual capital and their day-to-day practices.