Rita B. LaMere Memorial Foundation Awards $20,000 to Conservation Foundation

June 14, 2023 – Osprey

Conservation Foundation of the Gulf Coast recently received a $20,000 grant from the Rita B. LaMere Memorial Foundation. The grant supports the not-for-profit’s vital work to protect the land and water in Southwest Florida for the benefit of people and nature. An accredited land trust, Conservation Foundation has been saving land since 2003, safeguarding our community, natural areas, and wildlife for generations to come. To date, they have permanently protected over 19,200 acres across 56 properties in the five counties they serve.

“We are deeply grateful to the Rita B. LaMere Memorial Foundation for their investment in our mission,” says Christine P. Johnson, president of Conservation Foundation. “Through grants like this one, and with the ongoing support of our conservation community, we are quickening the pace of conservation here in Southwest Florida.”

The critical lands Conservation Foundation protects help capture pollution, provide vital habitats for plants and animals, act as natural buffers along coasts and riverbeds, and prevent flooding by holding rainfall from intense storms. Notable recent conservation successes include the 8-acre Don Pedro Island State Park Addition in Charlotte County, the 191-acre Crowley Museum & Nature Center in Sarasota County, the 432-acre Myakka Headwaters Preserve in Myakka City, 20 acres of Florida Panther habitat in Collier County, and the centrally located almost 300-acre Bobby Jones Golf Club in the City of Sarasota. The organization is currently partnering with Sarasota Audubon Society and Sarasota County to re-wild the 33-acre Quad Parcels at the Celery Fields and hopes to break ground by the end of this year. 

In addition to saving land, Conservation Foundation offers a myriad of programs and events to help connect people to the wonders of the natural world. Their educational and environmental outreach activities serve thousands of participants annually, providing memorable, equitable experiences to adults, families, and kids, empowering and expanding the community’s conservation understanding and ethic. To view upcoming offerings or learn more, visit conservationfoundation.com.