Dear Friend of MCF,
We hope you and your loved ones had a wonderful Thanksgiving. The entire MCF team thanks all who took part in our annual Holiday Style Luncheon and Shopping Spree featuring Lee Woodruff (highlighted below). The connections we make and funds we raise at our signature events energize us and drive our work to #KeepMonmouthGreen.
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As 2022 draws to a close, MCF is proud that in a world of change, we have been a constant and positive force for 45 years. Despite challenges and threats like pandemic disruptions, overdevelopment and sprawl, and climate change, MCF’s mission has never wavered – and our supporters remain steadfast.
Our annual fundraising drive is underway through the end of the year. It is a critical time to show your support for our mission, and we are thrilled to have a matching gift which will double your gift’s impact!
Thank you for your continued support of MCF. We wish you and yours all the joys of the holiday season and best wishes for the new year!
Cordially,
William D. Kastning, AICP
Executive Director
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MCF remains a constant in the effort to create parks, save open space, preserve farmland, teach environmental sustainability, safeguard waterways, and protect wildlife. We are dedicated to sustaining the precious natural resources of Monmouth County and keeping unprotected land from being lost forever.
We invite you to be a part of our mission and support MCF with a gift before 2022 ends. Your gift will be matched dollar for dollar thanks to a generous matching gift of $100,000 from an anonymous donor!
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Land preservation is making prime time TV in arguably the most popular series on cable – Yellowstone. The Paramount Network drama centers around the Dutton family, owners of the largest contiguous ranch in the United States – the fictional Yellowstone Dutton Ranch in Montana, commonly called “the Yellowstone.” Kevin Costner portrays John Dutton III, the fifth-generation patriarch who operates the Yellowstone, and he and his family will stop at nothing to protect their land from continual disputes with developers and neighboring Broken Rock Indian Reservation and Yellowstone National Park. The latest and seemingly sure-fire tactic is for the Duttons to place their land in a conservation easement with a land trust.
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L-R: Keynote Speaker Lee Woodruff, MCF Executive Director Bill Kastning, MCF Development and Event Marketing Manager Kathleen Kenney. |
Joy Martin, Michelle Ferretti & June Martin. Photos by Tina Colella Photography. |
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Thank you to our generous sponsors, donors, vendors, and attendees of the annual Holiday Style Luncheon and Shopping Spree fundraiser on Wednesday, November 30 at The Shadowbrook at Shrewsbury. The event, attended by 230 guests, featured a lineup of nearly two dozen vendors offering a wide range of fashion, jewelry, beauty, home accent, and specialty food items, and more – with twenty percent of their sales benefiting MCF.
Lee Woodruff, a journalist, best-selling author, public speaker, and co-founder of the Bob Woodruff Foundation, headlined the event. She spoke about the pivotal role nature plays in her foundation’s work to reacclimate and care for military veterans and their families, and she stressed the significance of green space in her own family’s healing journey following her husband Bob’s traumatic brain injury while reporting on the war in Iraq. She proved herself to be a passionate advocate for land preservation.
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The MCF team is humbled and grateful to be the beneficiary of an unexpected bequest in support of our charitable work. We wholeheartedly thank the late Monmouth County resident who had the generosity and foresight to include MCF in her estate planning, leaving a powerful legacy. We proudly welcome this individual into our Nilson society, created to honor those who include MCF in their estate plans, just as its namesake – Gloria and Len Nilson have done. |
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As a small nonprofit, estate gifts like this very often make a powerful impact. For donors, estate gifts often offer a vehicle for greater giving. To learn more or to discuss your legacy, please contact us or click HERE.
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This week, Marlboro Township Mayor Jonathan Hornik announced the preservation of the VanMater Farm located on Route 79, with approximately 26 acres in Marlboro and 2 acres in Freehold Township. Thanks to the collaboration of the State of New Jersey, Monmouth County, and Marlboro and Freehold Townships, the VanMater family will continue farming their land, while ensuring it is protected from development forever. MCF congratulates the project’s partners, with whom we are grateful to continue to collaborate with on other preservation projects throughout Monmouth County.
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Christmas Trees:
Real Are Best for the Environment!
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Conover’s Farm, Photo by Jena Cosimo |
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Aside from the joys of quality time and tradition that come with selecting a Christmas tree and their delicious evergreen smell, real trees provide environmental benefits!
🎄 Trees reduce carbon emissions by absorbing carbon dioxide, while manufactured trees create substantial carbon emissions for production and shipping.
🎄 Trees provide essential habitat for wildlife, including insects, birds, and small mammals.
🎄 Real trees keep our farmers in business. For every tree purchased, 1-3 seedlings are planted in its place!
🎄 Trees can be recycled and given a second life after the festivities are over, such as to capture sand and build up dunes on our Jersey Shore beaches. Artificial trees are not recyclable and often end up in landfills.
We recommend you visit Conover's Farm in Wall Township (preserved with MCF’s help through an agricultural easement) or one of Monmouth County’s other local Christmas tree farms, searchable through Grown In Monmouth to reserve and cut your Christmas Tree! For a small fee, many farms allow professional photographers to snap the perfect photo for your family holiday card!
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Great as stocking stuffers or gifts, MCF has a collection of items available for sale this holiday season. Visit our online store to purchase our set of notecards depicting the splendor of Monmouth County, a Raymond Salani III nature photography 2023 calendar, and a reusable, insulated tote bag. Shipping is FREE, and for a limited time, we’re offering a bundle of all three items at $15 off!
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Another great gift option is a tribute donation to MCF! Make a donation in honor or memory of a family member, friend, or colleague to support MCF’s work to create parks, save open space, preserve farmland, teach environmental sustainability, safeguard waterways, and protect wildlife. We will notify them of your donation without revealing the gift amount. And remember, through the end of 2022 all donations to MCF will be doubled, thanks to a matching gift from an anonymous donor! Make your gift today!
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While most of us prefer supporting local businesses, there's no denying that online shopping is sometimes just simply easier. However, there are ways that you can offset your carbon footprint with online shopping, particularly via Amazon. With a few clicks and no extra cost to you, your shopping can support MCF during the holidays and year-round! Simply visit Amazon Smile and designate Monmouth Conservation Foundation as your charity, then 0.5% of the purchase price of every eligible item you buy will be donated to support our work.
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www.monmouthconservation.org _ (732) 671-7000
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