OTTAWA, February 6, 2020 – The Rideau Valley Conservation Foundation (RVCF) is thrilled to have received a $25,000 donation to the Conservation 2020 campaign from the Laidlaw Foundation’s Family Discretionary Grant.
The RVCF is a steward of more than 1,259 hectares of healthy, protected ecosystems throughout the Rideau River watershed. These are crucial habitats — forests, wetlands and shorelines — that work hard to reduce our risk of floods, clean our water, stop erosion and store vast amounts of carbon to keep our communities healthy and resilient in the face of climate change.
“We are grateful for this investment in the long-term protection of local conservation lands,” said Foundation Chair Jason Kelly. Donations to the Conservation 2020 campaign will be invested in the Steve Simmering Conservation Land Endowment Fund which helps pay for property taxes, insurance and maintenance. “It is a gift that will keep on giving,” explains Mr. Kelly. “Only the annual interest from the fund is taken for conservation work while the principal remains invested year after year producing a steady annual source of money.”
The fund was established in 2010 in memory of Steve Simmering, an active outdoorsman and vice chairman of the Foundation. The endowment has slowly been growing since then to provide a small stream of income to support our vibrant and vital outdoor spaces.
“We are so glad we can support this very important initiative,” declares the family members who contributed towards the donation.
The Laidlaw Foundation is a Canadian charitable foundation based in Toronto, Ontario. Founded in 1949 by Robert A. Laidlaw, the institution was established with the purpose of providing financial support for charitable, conservation, educational, and cultural organizations in the Ontario region. Last year, the Foundation released its five-year plan which focuses the organization’s efforts on youth who are adversely impacted by, underserved and overrepresented in the justice, education and care systems.
For more information about the Conservation 2020 Campaign and how you or your business can get involved: www.rvcf.ca.
For more information, contact:
Diane Downey
Executive Director, Rideau Valley Conservation Foundation
613-692-3571 or 1-800-267-3504 ext. 1126
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