I was fortunate to have been a part of The Georgia Conservancy since its early days. My aunt, Virginia Harbin, was a founding member. At about the same time, my parents divorced and my Mom, brothers and I moved in with her. The Conservancy and the monthly trips were a godsend for a young girl who felt a bit adrift. Not only did the Conservancy show this young Georgia native many of the wonders of her state, but it allowed her to be a part of something important and meaningful. I know that the years my aunt worked with the Conservancy were some of her happiest, and I can say that they were for me, as well. Now I’m happy to have my son a part of the Conservancy family too. Even though I’ve moved out of Georgia, I will continue to support this important organization.
So many of the parks and natural areas in our state are protected because of the hard work they have done. Not only saving beautiful areas for all of us to enjoy now, but for generations to come. I hope I can appeal to my family and friends to support this great organization. What a wonderful way to honor Virginia as well.
Over the next 12 months we’re raising the bar: conserving more than 30,000 - 35,000 acres of land, educating more than 3,500 people in “Georgia’s outdoor classroom” that we call our trips program, and helping thousands of students and parents breath a little easier with our school siting workshops. But, truthfully, the issue that gives us great concern is maintaining steady handed advocacy on behalf of the gem of Georgia’s coast: Cumberland Island.
With so much to do, we’ve had to expand annual fundraising goals. We’re currently $50,000 behind our expanded funding needs and we need your help.
For our 50th Anniversary, we've asked some of our most important donors and members to share their Georgia story as a Georgia Conservancy Storyteller.
Thank you for supporting our storytellers and the Georgia Conservancy!
| Supporters | |||
| Name | Date | Amount | Comments |
| Angela Elliott | 06/20/2017 | $25.00 | Don't know why I am just seeing this! Very good cause, MaryLee, and I love the back story! Good luck ☺️ | William Brawley | 06/12/2017 | $50.00 | More than happy to support the Georgia Conservancy! As a kid, I heard stories of my great aunt Virginia Harbin's involvement in the founding of the Conservancy, as well as my grandmother and mother's experience, getting involved and going on trips with the group. I'm proud to be a member of the Conservancy myself, all these years later, and I try to support and volunteer with the group as much as I can. Thank you, Georgia Conservancy for all your hard work! | Mary Lee Lee Brawley | 06/10/2017 | $75.00 | I reached my goal before I had completed my donation. Of course I wanted to honor my dear aunt Virginia Harbin too. She would be so happy to have seen the love and support for her dear Conservancy by her family and friends. Thanks again to everyone! | Kevin Brawley | 06/07/2017 | $50.00 | Virginia Philip | 06/05/2017 | $75.00 | To get to your goal! | Anonymous Friend | 06/04/2017 | $100.00 | Kathleen Harbin | 06/03/2017 | $50.00 | Sylvia Campbell | 06/03/2017 | $100.00 | Thank you, Georgia Conservancy, for all you are doing to help preserve Cumberland Island in its natural state. I have backpacked at Stafford for over 25 year and taken numerous day trips to this beautiful island. I have written my own letters supporting keeping Cumberland Island development free. The rezoning request must be defeated. | Rosemary Lee Shaw | 05/14/2017 | $25.00 | I wish it could be more, but I wanted to participate in this fundraiser to acknowledge and support the organization that brought such happiness to my sister Virginia and to me, as well. We had such fun at the monthly trips. I also enjoyed my years working for the Conservancy. So happy to know they are continuing the good work. | Shara and John Harbin | 05/05/2017 | $150.00 | Nancy Burt | 05/04/2017 | $100.00 | Hooray for you, MaryLee. I am thrilled to get to honor Gina this way. She was an amazing woman who truly made a difference...and an amazing aunt, too. She gave me summer jobs at the conservancy when I was a poor college girl. She gave us all some great memories, didn't she? | David Shaw | 05/04/2017 | $100.00 | Some of my fondest memories of Virginia involve the Georgia Conservancy.Lots of trips to places like the Chattooga River, Cloudland Canyon, a total eclipse viewing near Savannah and driving Morris Udall to the annual Conservancy meeting at Callaway Gardens.She was such a hard worker and so dedicated to preserving Georgia's natural heritage. | Sally Treadwell | 05/04/2017 | $50.00 | Jennifer Heneisen | 05/02/2017 | $25.00 | Anonymous Friend | 05/01/2017 | $25.00 | In honor of Virginia Harbin and the organization she loved. | Jim Wallis | 05/01/2017 | $100.00 | I live in California, a state of great natural beauty, we can't just save places like Yosemite or Yellowstone or The Grand Canyon, we have to work to preserve open space and the environment everywhere. Without organizations like the Conservancy we might as well pave paradise and put up the parking lot. Most importantly, as one of Virginia Harbin's many nieces & nephews if I didn't donate I would be drummed out of the family. | Robert Wallis | 05/01/2017 | $100.00 | I now live in London (England) but support the work of the Georgia Conservancy. Virginia Harbin was my aunt. |
| Total | $1,200.00 | ||