MEMPHIS, Tenn. - Larry Wilkins, regional director for Ducks Unlimited (DU), was awarded the 2013-14 Regional Director of the Year award for his outstanding efforts as a staff member of Region 7, an area that encompasses the southeastern United States.

"The real recipient of this award should be the volunteers of the region," Wilkins said. "I would like to thank them for all they do for the waterfowl of North America."

Wilkins, a resident of Henderson, N.C., covers central North Carolina working with volunteer committees in this area hosting fundraisers for the 77-year-old conservation organization. The events in his region raised more than $600,000 for DU's conservation mission in the fiscal year ending on June 30.

Ducks Unlimited is the leader in wetlands conservation, and volunteers are the heart and soul of the organization. Coordinating more than 4,000 local fund-raising events, the volunteers generate more than 400,000 memberships and more than $50 million annually.

For more information, visit www.ducks.org.