People & Business

Jelks Family Foundation Gives $5,000 for SCF Venice Educational Nature Trail

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The Jelks Family Foundation has awarded State College of Florida Foundation a $5,000 grant to support the Environmental Education Nature Trail at State College of Florida, Manatee-Sarasota (SCF). The trail is located at SCF Venice.

“Our Foundation believes in environmental education for the younger generations, and this project belies that mission,” said Allen N. Jelks Jr., treasurer of the Jelks Family Foundation. “A wildlife corridor on a college campus sets the mindset visually and mentally for reducing habitat loss.”

The wildlife corridor was initially established in 2012, with annual expansion and improvement efforts leading to the food forest coming to fruition in 2018. The grant, written by SCF faculty members Woody McCree and Andrew Swanson, will assist with the continued expansion and diversification of the trail’s ecosystem.

Occupying the trail with a mix of edible and wildlife supportive native plants, SCF Venice is forming a bastion of biodiversity to sustain the college’s work in sustainable horticulture, ecological restoration and environmental education. The project has been spearheaded by members of the Venice Green Team, a service organization of students, staff and faculty committed to conservation.

For additional information or to donate, contact SCF Foundation at 941-752-5390.

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