The Nature Conservancy Holds Its Annual Spring Fundraiser

Hoochie on the Coochie Raises Funds for Conservation in Georgia

Atlanta—April 19, 2005—The Nature Conservancy in Georgia held its 11th annual spring fundraising event, the Hoochie on the Coochie, Friday, April 15, 2005, at Magnolia Hall in Piedmont Park in Atlanta. The Nature Conservancy staff and volunteer organizers raised $187,436, exceeding their goal by more than $11,000. All funds will be used to support land and water conservation efforts throughout Georgia.

"We have a wonderful team of committed volunteers who worked tirelessly to ensure this was a successful event," said Tavia McCuean, director of The Nature Conservancy in Georgia. "Their leadership, combined with the support of our corporate sponsors and members, made it possible for The Nature Conservancy to raise much needed funds for conservation work."

Event chairs include Georgia trustees Hugh Tarbutton, Jr and Jane Tracy, with her husband Tom. In recognition of Georgia-Pacific’s support of The Nature Conservancy and conservation in Georgia for more than 30 years, Georgia-Pacific CEO and President A.D. "Pete" Correll and his wife, Ada Lee, were the honorary chairs of the event.

Tricia Allen, past chair of the Board of Trustees for The Nature Conservancy, and her husband, Inman, lead the Patron Committee for the Hoochie on the Coochie event. Corporate sponsors for this year’s Hoochie on the Coochie event were Georgia-Pacific Corporation, Cox Enterprises, Georgia Power Company, Delta Air Lines, and the Cocoa-Cola Company.

The highlight of the dinner dance was the annual silent auction, which featured an adventurous six-night trip for two to Canada’s 21 million-acre Great Bear Rainforest, one of the largest remaining coastal temperate rainforests. The trip includes two nights at the Bear Cove Cottages in Port Hardy, Canada. To complete the adventure, Great Bear Tours is donating a seaplane ride to a floating lodge deep inside the Great Bear Rainforest, where guests will spend the remaining four nights of the adventure.