Saving Southwest Florida: Campaign for the ConservancyA Successful $25 Million Campaign and an unmet needs expand the goal to $33 MillionThe beauty of Southwest Florida’s natural environment is undeniable. But as you’re aware, much more is at stake.  Our region’s wild lands provide life-essentials like clean and abundant water—nothing we can take for granted. Today, we are standing at a critical juncture. The past decades of explosive growth and development still continue to threaten our water, our land, our wildlife and our future. In short, our region is facing unprecedented challenges.
Some say the threats we face are unstoppable. What we do in the next 5 years will affect the next 50 years. We cannot give up and think these challenges are unsolvable. Significant conservation opportunities remain in our region - if we act today. Only two things stand in the way of these threats: the work of the Conservancy of Southwest Florida and the commitment of forward-thinking people like yourself.
In early 2008, we announced a goal of raising approximately $25 million to fund several important capital needs identified in a Five Year Strategic Plan developed by the Board of Directors:
Response from our supporters was swift and enthusiastic. By mid-2008, we had received $26 million in pledges toward the Campaign. Since many critical needs remained, the Board of Directors agreed to extend the goal to $33 million to fund three additional areas.  These included creating a new Discovery Center, funding an endowment for Veterinary Care at the Wildlife Rehabilitation Clinic and expanding our Sustainability Initiative to address the Nature Center site as a whole including energy use, water quality, use of sustainable materials and ensuring a zero, or even positive, impact on the environment.
The new Conservancy Nature Center site will be a living demonstration on how smart, sustainable growth can be accomplished by treading more lightly on the land. Here's How You Can HelpA project of this magnitude has never been undertaken by the Conservancy of Southwest Florida since it was founded over 45 years ago. To complete our work in this final phase of the “Saving Southwest Florida” Campaign, we are asking you to become a leader among the families in the region to make a powerful statement and a necessary and meaningful impact. We are so very close to completing our work. Every penny, every dollar, matching gifts and every donation, no matter how large or small, will help us meet these urgent priorities. Your gifts will help save our southwest Florida paradise for many generations to come.
Download Gift Pledge Form here |