Fall for Conservation cocktail party guests donning hats to help honor Gloria and Len Nilson. Gloria (in red, center) is known for her trademark hats! |
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Dear Friend of MCF,
Autumn is here! Our recent Fall for Conservation cocktail party was a great success, and we are shifting focus to our Holiday Style Luncheon and Shopping Spree. Join us on November 30 to lunch and shop in support of MCF’s mission, and hear best-selling author and co-founder of the Bob Woodruff Foundation, Lee Woodruff, speak about the healing power of nature. Full details are included below. Thank you to all who support these critical fundraising events, benefiting MCF’s work to preserve open space and farmland for future generations.
This is a wonderful time of year for us in the northeast. We encourage you to get outdoors and enjoy the changing foliage and the diverse agritourism offerings our local farmers have to offer. With gift-giving season approaching, this is also the perfect time of year to shop and support MCF through Amazon Smile.
In this month’s enewsletter, we invite you into the mind of an artist/farmer and to meet the couple stewarding a historic, preserved farm in Monmouth County. Thanks for reading and for your ongoing interest! We cannot accomplish our mission without you.
Cordially,
William D. Kastning, AICP
Executive Director
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Your donation supports Monmouth Conservation Foundation’s mission of
Creating Parks . Saving Open Space . Preserving Farmland . Safeguarding Waterways . Teaching Environmental Sustainability . Protecting Wildlife
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Arthur and Jill Kontos at Fairway Farm
Photo Allie Grossman
The arts and nature are priceless gifts. They inspire us. They move us. They give us life in difficult times. Jill Kerwick, an award-winning artist and longtime supporter of Monmouth Conservation Foundation (MCF) alongside her husband, Arthur Kontos, likens homes with no art to communities with no green space. She equates the wonder one feels when walking in the forest to the emotions evoked by viewing a painting.
Arthur and Jill Kontos reside in New Jersey part-time at their preserved 40-acre farm in Middletown. Locals may know Fairway Farm and Artie and Jill - as gracious, repeat hosts of MCF’s Dinner Dance fundraiser - but may not know Jill Kerwick, the artist, and their farm’s rich history and ties to MCF.
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In the aftermath of Hurricane Ian affecting our neighbors far to the south, on the eve of Super Storm Sandy’s 10-year anniversary, we are reminded of the fragility of life and our property. Yet we find hope in the outpouring of support and resiliency of those who rebuild and adapt. It’s also a time to think about sustainability.
We invite you to join us in helping to secure a sustainable future for Monmouth County residents and generations to follow by including MCF in your estate plans. A bequest made through your will, for instance, creates an enduring source of support for MCF in carrying out our mission to create parks, preserve open space and farmland, and protect waterways and wildlife.
The Nilson Society, named in recognition of the extraordinary contributions of our longtime supporters Gloria and Len Nilson, has been created to honor those who include MCF in their estate plans, just as Gloria and Len have done.
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Wednesday, November 30, 2022 - 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
The Shadowbrook at Shrewsbury, New Jersey
Holiday Style Boutique Open from 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Luncheon and program begin promptly at 12:00 p.m.
Shopping continues 2:00 to 4:00 p.m.
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Featuring keynote by Lee Woodruff
Journalist, best-selling author,
public speaker, and
co-founder of the
Bob Woodruff Foundation
Proceeds support MCF’s charitable work to preserve open space and farmland for future generations.
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Thank you to our generous sponsors, donors, and attendees of the Fall for Conservation cocktail party held on September 24 evening! Gloria and Len Nilson were honored for their longstanding commitment to MCF’s mission, philanthropy, and efforts to better our community. The event, attended by 250 guests, was hosted graciously by Robin and John Klein and supported by key sponsors Arthur and Jill Kontos, Ray Catena, and Shore Point Distributing Co. Inc, all of whom we profoundly thank. The MCF Team wholeheartedly appreciates all contributions to this signature fundraiser! Thanks to your support, Fall for Conservation raised $175,000 in support of MCF’s charitable work to preserve open space throughout Monmouth County.
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Honorees Len and Gloria Nilson (MCF Trustee), MCF President Larry Fink, and MCF Executive Director Bill Kastning
Photos by Tina Colella Photography
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Event Hosts John and Robin Klein |
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Fall is a magical time in the Garden State. Get out and visit our local farms, and enjoy the wide range of agritourism experiences this time of year!
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Corn mazes, hayrides, apple picking, farm stands, pumpkin patches, and more can be found at #GrownInMonmouth member farms listed at growninmonmouth.com. The site, a program of the Monmouth County Board of County Commissioners, also has recommendations for wineries, breweries, and distilleries; pick-your-own spots; community gardens, and so much more – all produced in Monmouth!
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When you shop at Amazon Smile and designate Monmouth Conservation Foundation as your charity, 0.5% of the purchase price of every eligible item you buy will be donated to support our work. With a few clicks and no extra cost to you, your shopping can support MCF!
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www.monmouthconservation.org |
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