Conservation Foundation Cancels Party in Paradise

October 21, 2024 | Osprey

Conservation Foundation of the Gulf Coast announces that Party in Paradise, scheduled for November 9, is cancelled. The not-for-profit land trust made the difficult decision to cancel the annual fundraising event as the community recovers from the recent impacts of Hurricanes Milton and Helene.

“Party in Paradise is our biggest fundraiser of the year. However, in light of all that our community is currently going through, we feel it would be inappropriate to host an evening of extravagance and indulgence, even if it is in support of our vital mission to save land,” comments Christine P. Johnson, president of Conservation Foundation. “We recognize that now is the time to focus on recovery and resilience. And our mission to protect Southwest Florida’s land and water is all about increasing our community’s resiliency to storms and flooding! Our hearts go out to the community during this stressful time and we stand ready to continue our important work with the help of our conservation community and donors.”

Founded in 2003, to date Conservation Foundation has protected over 20,000 acres across the five counties they serve. Saving land is a race against time, but together with their conservation community, they are quickening the pace of local land conservation for the benefit of all who live, work, and play in our region. Conserving land helps reduce flooding by protecting and restoring the natural floodplains, coastal marshes, prairies, and forests that naturally absorb and hold water. When humans pave over natural areas, the land cannot hold or store water as it is meant to, and instead with nowhere to go, floodwaters rush through our cities and towns putting our community at risk and picking up pollution, fertilizers, and other contaminants along the way. By conserving land, Conservation Foundation protects that land’s ability to store and clean water, helping to safeguard our community and local waters for generations to come. To learn more or donate, visit conservationfoundation.com.