Natural Givers: Susan Lowy Harlan & Robert Harlan

By Ryan G. Van Cleave | Photo by John Revisky

With Washington, DC in their rearview mirror, Susan Lowy Harlan and Robert Harlan moved to Sarasota in 1998. “DC is really for people in their 30s and 40s,” says Susan. “It’s great for young people who are growing their careers. We’d also had enough of the DC weather.” natural

But Susan didn’t come here to retire—she wanted to put her background as an educator to work and she did exactly that. Susan soon connected with Goodwill Manasota, Inc., where she started by tutoring children with learning disabilities and helped the organization with literacy grants. Before long, she started developing education and training programs for Goodwill’s team members and has now been doing that for more than fifteen years. And she loves it. natural

Now that her husband Rob is retired from his career as an airline pilot, he’s got time to pursue one of his favorite things: enjoying the great outdoors. Susan discovered his deep love for the outdoors when they first met back in DC. He asked her to go bike riding. She said she didn’t have a bike. “Don’t worry,” he told her. “I have an extra.” And to this day, bike riding is something they still do together, riding three or four times per week. They’ve taken organized bike tours through Europe and anytime they make vacation plans, they try to include some type of biking excursion, too. “We’ve gone to many states just to bike,” Rob says. Beyond being great exercise, he thinks it’s a fantastic way to see nature and be at one with the environment. natural

“The Potomac Peddlers is the largest bike group in the country,” notes Rob. “We used to do a lot of rides with them. When we came here, we got involved with the Sarasota Manatee Bike Club.” That’s how they met fellow bike enthusiast Roland Abraham, whose kindness and generosity impressed them greatly. The Emily & Roland Abraham Educational Fund has to date granted 1000+ college scholarships through the Community Foundation of Sarasota County. Add in the charitable contributions he’s given to many, many organizations, and his giving is well in excess of $6 million. natural

So when the Community Foundation—an organization Susan and Rob have worked with before to support the Girl Scouts, the Boy Scouts, and the American Littoral Society through their own donor-advised fund—let them know about the Conservation Foundation of the Gulf Coast’s desire to create a bike shelter on the Foundation property named after the late Roland Abraham, they jumped at the chance. “I think he’d be pleased to know it’s there,” Susan says. “He really loved biking.” Susan and Rob have also funded a bike shelter on the Legacy Trail. natural

Through that partnership with the Conservation Foundation, Susan and Rob learned about the group’s mission and values which were very much in alignment with what they cared about. They immediately became champions of this organization that appreciated nature and the environment as much as they did. Rob told the Conservation Foundation that they had to get their messaging out more effectively—more people needed to hear about them and the good work they did. And he reports that they’re doing a much more effective job of that today, probably due in part to Susan and Rob serving as ambassadors by introducing others to the group’s mission. natural

With such growth in our area, Rob is concerned about how quickly land is being gobbled up. “It’s vital to have land set aside that will stay in its natural state,” he says, “whether that’s through outright purchase, land conservation, deeds, or other legal ways.” Susan adds that the Conservation Foundation can help communities learn ways to preserve land and protect the environment, as they’ve done in Braden Woods. natural

One of the key programs Susan and Rob supported from the start is the Youth in Nature initiative, where area at-risk youth are given WOW! moments in nature by offering firsthand experiences in our parks, reserves, and waterways. “So many kids live here, but many have never been in the woods or gone in the water,” says Susan. This program gets kids away from computers and games and instead shows them how to use a fishing pole, or how to handle a kayak, or witness a live alligator in the Myakka River. For many young people, these core nature experiences are life changing. natural

“We gave seed money for that. It’s a great program,” says Rob. He points out that in general, philanthropy in Sarasota focuses on three main things: cultural arts, education, and charitable works. “These are all marvelous things, but environmental projects sometimes aren’t in the forefront. So that’s what we’ve been looking into. We’d like to advance those projects and help put environmental issues into the community’s mind.”

Rob further explains this effort, saying “We like to know our money has a tangible effect right here in the community. With the Conservation Foundation, we know that’s the case.” It doesn’t have to be big or flashy, either, to make a difference. Susan and Rob paid for a road sign on Tamiami Trail directing people to the Conservation Foundation. They also funded an engineering study for a road that was part of their strategic planning, and they helped get the electric lines fixed on the docks used by kids in the Youth in Nature initiative. “You don’t have to fund an entire building to make a real difference,” Susan explains with a  smile.

“They’re wonderful people there,” says Susan about those who work at the Conservation Foundation. “The love and dedication they have for their work is just amazing. Christine [Johnson] and the others do great work.” That’s exactly why Susan and Rob continue to find ways to help support their mission: protecting land, educating people about the environment, and collaborating with the community to make it all happen.

“The only thing I miss about DC is the Chesapeake Bay,” admits Rob. “The sailing up there was wonderful. Truly wonderful.” Susan is quick to agree. To this day, they remain boating enthusiasts, being members of the Bird Key Yacht Club and having visited all 36 of the Florida Council yacht clubs.

Rob ends with: “I’m not sure what comes first—environmental consciousness or environmental appreciation. One certainly reinforces the other.” And thanks to the efforts of Susan and Rob in support of the Conservation Foundation, there’s going to be more of it around for future generations to appreciate.

FOR MORE INFORMATION about the Conservation Foundation of the Gulf Coast, please visit www.conservationfoundation.com or call 941.918.2100.