Our partners at CAZCA recently issues an opinion/editorial at Arizona Central reminding the public that in these challenging times, the strain put on our open spaces is extraordinary, and funding is needed to continue to offer these locations for people to enjoy. They highlight the therapeutic side of nature and ask the public to consider open spaces in their giving plans.
You can read the entire article here!
The McDowell Sonoran Preserve is the nation’s largest urban land preserve. The McDowell Sonoran Conservancy contributes over 60,000 volunteer hours each year to the maintenance, advancement, and scientific study of open spaces in the Sonoran Desert, and most of that is within the Preserve, through a partnership with the City of Scottsdale. Over 750,000 visits per year to the Preserve prove that this resource, and others like it, are valued and utilized. However, when there is stiff competition for funding from the usual sources, we must rely on public contributions to continue to serve. Through our science, education, and stewardship programs, we are bringing the Sonoran Desert to the world during the time of lock-downs and summer heat, and we know that many of those we touch digitally will then visit in person.
We hope this inspires you to give, and when it does, please contribute to the McDowell Sonoran Conservancy during the month of August, when we’re participating in the Rock Family of Companies Community Challenge and competing for additional prizes each week.
If we take first place, we could win an additional $15,000 to help protect and advance natural open spaces, like the McDowell Sonoran Preserve where we do much of our work in Science, Education and Stewardship.