The Nature Conservancy’s 2008 Earth and Ocean Gala a Success for Conservation

Daniel L. Murphy, Chairman and CEO of Madison National Bank Honored

Cold Spring Harbor, NY — May 13, 2008 — More than 350 guests joined The Nature Conservancy to celebrate the seventh annual Earth & Ocean Gala on Thursday, May 8, 2008 at The Nature Conservancy's flagship Long Island preserve, Uplands Farm Nature Sanctuary in Cold Spring Harbor. The event was themed “Protecting Nature, Preserving Life…on Long Island and Around the World.”

The Earth and Ocean Gala is a celebration of nature that draws hundreds of corporate, community and government leaders in support of The Nature Conservancy’s conservation work. Specifically, funds raised from the gala will help foster “Long Island’s Last Stand,” a Nature-Conservancy led initiative to preserve and protect the 25,000 acres of significant remaining open space in Nassau and Suffolk counties.

This year’s gala honoree, Daniel L. Murphy, chairman and chief executive officer of Madison National Bank, was recognized for his commitment to Long Island’s environment. Recipient of this year’s Conservation Leadership Award was Don Eversoll, former chairman of The Nature Conservancy’s Long Island Board of Directors.

The event was chaired by John Coffey, a director of Madison National Bank. Serving as Master of Ceremonies was Mark W. Hamer, principal, Harvest Real Estate Services, Inc. The gala raised more than $360,000, including donations from a live auction, facilitated by Nassau County Executive, Tom Suozzi.

The Nature Conservancy appreciates the support of everyone who attended.

The Nature Conservancy is a leading conservation organization working around the world to protect ecologically important lands and waters for nature and people. To date, the Conservancy and its more than one million members have been responsible for the protection of more than 15 million acres in the United States and have helped preserve more than 102 million acres in Latin America, the Caribbean, Asia and the Pacific. On Long Island, The Nature Conservancy has helped to preserve more than 150,000 acres. Visit us on the web at nature.org/longisland.

Long Island’s Last Stand is a 10-year action plan to save Long Island’s most significant remaining open spaces and farmland and to restore and protect our harbors, bays, and public parkland. Long Island’s Last Stand is supported by a coalition of concerned citizens, farmers, business leaders and conservation groups who are taking a stand to protect remaining natural areas and to restore Long Island’s lands, waters and way of life. Visit www.linature.org for more information.