Dear Friends,
2023 has been a banner year for Friends of the Reedy River, not only because it’s our 30th Anniversary but also because we have had many accomplishments this year alone, as well as in the intervening years since our landmark 25th Anniversary in 2018.
Since 2018, we . . .
- Hired our first Watershed Scientist (August 2021) and first Partnership and Resource Developer (February 2022)
- Obtained our first stand-alone office space with onsite storage (June 2021)
- Expanded our Board and increased its diversity (ongoing)
Together, these three forward-looking actions have made FoRR a more impactful and effective organization.
In 2023 alone, compared to 2022
- Identified permanent in-kind sponsors for our River Cleanups
- Grew our number of social media followers and newsletter subscribers to over 7,000 people
- Saw donation dollars from individual donors grow by over 62%, while dollars from corporate donors grew by over 44%
- Solicited more grant funding than in any other single year
- Held a 30th Anniversary fundraising campaign that included 100% participation by our board members and a potential $10,000 corporate match
- Members of our board and staff joined the Saluda River Basin Council to plan for water availability in the Saluda Basin over the next 50 years (the Reedy is a sub-basin of the Saluda)
- Took stands advocating for wiser, more conservation-oriented approaches to development and watershed management, such as the Greenville County buffer ordinance, the City of Greenville development code, and commenting on the Reedy River Basin bacteria TMDL (Total Maximum Daily Load)
And for 2024, we have even more new endeavors in process or under consideration:
- An updated website
- Participation in iMAGINE Upstate STEAM festival
- A year-round internship program through local universities
- More substantial corporate funding
- A New Development Checklist containing recommendations for new development or redevelopment in the Upstate of South Carolina that is is designed to empower citizens to address advocacy issues related to water independently and consistently
- Develop educational strategies to further engage the next generation of citizen scientists during Summer 2024
- Researching and implementing innovative invasive species management along the Reedy corridor and its wetlands (goatscaping, targeted spraying, etc.)
Many thanks and much appreciation for your ongoing support in all its manifestations. It's your participation and contributions that keep us motivated and enthusiastic about carrying out FoRR’s mission. Happy New Year!
Your friend,
Scott Butler, President of FoRR's Board of Directors
