The Nature Conservancy. Protecting nature. Preserving life.™

Mary Jean Huston © Jeff Roe

"That people have chosen to give so generously to the My Wisconsin campaign even in the last three economically-challenging years is heartening and empowering.”
Mary Jean Huston
Wisconsin State Director

Wisconsin State Director Says Thank You

As Thanksgiving approaches and I reflect on the many things for which I am truly grateful, I want to thank all of you for supporting The Nature Conservancy and report on what you have helped achieve.

Between July 2007 and June 2011, you and people like you contributed more than $31.7 million for land and water conservation and demonstrated the critical importance of our shared mission despite very challenging economic times in our state and our nation.

Over the past four years of My Wisconsin in the Campaign for a Sustainable Planet, I have been inspired by each of you who gave generously to conserve the lands and waters you love; people like:

• The special couple who travel the world but hold a warm place in their hearts for Wisconsin,; they made two leadership gifts to the campaign, one for land acquisition around the state and the other as a match to encourage others to support northern forest conservation.
   
• Campaign co-chair Mike Borden who made a gift to honor the memory of former trustee and Wisconsin conservation leader Mark Musolf. Mark died far too young but left a legacy of healthy lands and waters to all of us; and
   
• Newell and Ann Meyer, who dreamed of creating a nature sanctuary in southeast Wisconsin. Through their $12.5 million estate gift, they entrusted the Conservancy with fulfilling their dream, and we are honored to pursue their legacy.

As you’ll also see on these campaign pages, your gifts over the four years of the campaign are hard at work, protecting almost 87,000 acres of land and water, launching two new projects to protect and restore the health of the Great Lakes, and helping conserve islands in Lake Superior and coral reefs in the Caribbean.

You, along with dedicated campaign volunteers and more than 20,000 fellow supporters of The Nature Conservancy, make this possible. We are thankful for your gifts and friendship, and we are excited by the prospect of all we will accomplish together in the future.