2018 Spring Benefit
We're grateful to everyone who came out to support the conservation work of Shirley Heinze Land Trust at our annual Spring Benefit on Saturday, May 19th at Purdue Northwest's beautiful Westville campus. 350 people were in attendance to enjoy an evening of fun and friendship.
Board President Kelly Carmichael welcomed and thanked attendees. He spoke of the responsibility of the organization to ensure that its natural lands are protected for generations to come, and of the progress that has been made to advance the board’s strategic objectives, including achieving accredited status from the Land Trust Accreditation Commission in 2017. Executive Director Kristopher Krouse thanked our Benefactor Sponsor, Northern Indiana Public Service Company, and the Karner Blue sponsor, ArcelorMittal, along with the rest of the sponsors, volunteers and the host committee. The evening’s program was highlighted by a series of testimonials from six individuals who are representative of the organization’s many partnerships. Each spoke briefly of a particular aspect of the mission of Shirley Heinze Land Trust: permanence, resilience, conservation, stewardship, future, and inspiration. The speakers were: John Bacone, Director of the Division of Nature Preserves, Indiana Department of Natural Resources; Therese Vande Hey, Associate General Counsel, ArcelorMittal; Arthur Pearson, Director of the Chicago Program of the Gaylord and Dorothy Donnelley Foundation; Jim Haniford, Meadowbrook Nature Preserve site steward; Olivia Burkhart, Marquette Catholic high school student and volunteer; and Ralph Lerner, donor and past board member. The evening’s Funding the Future Paddle Auction featured a dollar-for-dollar match, and raised sixty-eight thousand dollars toward a goal of one million dollars, which will be used to establish a permanent operating fund. The fund will strengthen long-term preservation and stewardship efforts, and help to sustain the organization’s mission to protect natural places in northwestern Indiana in perpetuity. To date, the organization has reached eighty-five percent of the one million dollar goal. Those who would like to contribute to the remaining balance of one hundred fifty thousand dollars are asked to call Andrea Huntington, Director of Development, at 219-242-8558 for more information. Our sincere thanks to all of our generous supporters, volunteers, donors, and sponsors for making this night a success. |
Special thanks to the following generous event sponsors:
Benefactor Sponsor Northern Indiana Public Service Company (NIPSCO) Karner Blue Butterfly Sponsors ArcelorMittal Green Heron Sponsors Suzy & Tim Griffin Anne & Tim Walsh Paul & Susan Zucker Orbis Environmental Consulting |