Tag: #GivingTuesday

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#GivingTuesday

Our mission seems very simple – protect and preserve the Corkscrew Regional Ecosystem Watershed.

Originally we pursued this mission through assisting with land acquisition and funding. But that has slowly transitioned over time to teaching people about the importance of preserving and protecting our most valuable natural resource – water – through protecting the watershed.

We do not host a lot of fundraisers, and we are extremely transparent as an organization. Our members and donors contributed 41% of our funding in 2017. And for each dollar the CREW Trust spends, 88 cents of that dollar goes towards our programming, 8 cents is spent on fundraising, and only 4 cents is spent on administration.

Because we focus so much on providing quality environmental education programs, and many of those are free, your donation has a huge impact. Today, on #givingtuesday, we are so very thankful for the support our members and donors have given us over the years and the commitment you have to helping provide environmental education to the residents, students and visitors in Southwest Florida.

If you would like to donate to the CREW Trust on #givingtuesday, we have several options:

Facebook is matching donations today, and we do have a goal of raising $500. You can donate directly through Facebook.

You can make a donation through our website and designate it as a general donation OR as a donation to the Dr. David R. Cooper Education Fund.

You can become a member of the CREW Trust and receive discounted tickets for our seasonal education programs and invitations to members-only events.

Whether you choose to give today, on #givingtuesday, or at a later date – or are previous donor and supporter – please know that your support has a significant impact, and we appreciate you and your contributions.

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#Givingtuesday Success Story- Thanks to you!

#givingtuesday report

This was the CREW Trust’s second year participating in #GivingTuesday, December 1st, 2015.

invest in CREW

We are proud to say it was very successful. Thanks to you – our generous CREW supporters – we received $455 on #GivingTuesday. The CREW Trust was not the only one who had a successful #Givingtuesday, according to Steve MacLaughlin “The attention around #GivingTuesday 2015 reached record levels and online giving grew 52% compared to 2014.” – See more at:http://npengage.com/nonprofit-fundraising/givingtuesday-online-donations-grow-52/#sthash.mZYjQPfw.dpuf

If you were unable to donate on December 1st , don’t worry. CREW’s end-of-year giving campaign goes till December 31st. Keep the momentum going, and help us reach our goal of $2,000 by the end of the year!  Donate by going to https://crewtrus.mystagingwebsite.com/donate/. If you would like your #givingtuesday donation to help with land acquisition or something other than the Education Fund, please specify in the comment box before you submit your donation.

#givingtuesday report

#GivingTuesday, is an international day dedicated to giving back to the community through donations of time, money, talent, food, etc. The CREW Trust chose to create a month-long #GivingTuesday campaign aimed at increasing its Education Fund. The fund’s objectives are to:

  • provide resources to local schools for CREW field trips
  • provide scholarships to local high-school and college students studying environmental science or other related fields
  • provide scholarships for CREW Trust interns, and further support CREW environmental education staff and programs

The Education Fund is our way to create a legacy here in Southwest Florida and to strengthen and support the CREW Trust’s mission.

Thank you for all your support! Remember, you don’t have to give big…just give. 

-Jessi Drummond

 

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3 days till #givingtuesday 2015 !

shopping checklist #giving tuesday

Give to CREW December 1st, 2015

#givingtuesday an international day of giving is only three days away. This year it is kicking off our end-of-year giving where all proceeds go to our Education Fund. 

The fund’s objectives are to:

  •  provide resources to local schools for CREW field trips
  •  provide scholarships to local high-school and college students studying environmental science or other related fields
  •  provide scholarships for CREW Trust interns, and further support CREW environmental education staff and programs

The Education Fund is our way to create a legacy here in Southwest Florida and to strengthen and support the CREW Trust’s mission. If you would like your #givingtuesday donation to help with land acquisition, or go to help another cause please specify in the comment box before you submit your donation.

Donate to CREW’s Education Fund by going to https://crewtrus.mystagingwebsite.com/donate/shopping checklist #giving tuesday

Donors of $250 or more will receive a private hike from CREW’s Environmental Education Specialist for a group up to 20 people.

Donors of $75 or more receive 2 general admission tickets to the CREW Concert and Silent Eco-Auction February  13th, 2016.

In 2015 what will you impact be? You don’t have to give big, or small…you just have to give.

To see why others are giving visit: https://crewtrus.mystagingwebsite.com/2015/11/20/givingtuesday-why-i-give-to-crew-2/

Thank you for all your support!

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#GivingTuesday: Why I Give to CREW

Deb 125x160Guest post by Deb Hanson

The CREW Land & Water Trust is launching its annual end-of-year giving campaign on #GivingTuesday, December 1st, 2015 – an international day of giving that harnesses the positive power of social media, and energizes people to give their money, time and talent to causes they care about.

This is a chance to give back to CREW and do good for all of southwest Florida, and I will be one of the first to donate – even though I don’t live in Florida anymore.

Here’s why I will give to CREW…

CREW Connects people to nature: When I give my hard-earned dollars to the CREW Trust, I know it will make a big impact. As a small nonprofit, the CREW Land and Water Trust depends on donor dollars to fund not only land acquisition, but its well-respected and highly successful environmental education programs. CREW’s high quality environmental education programs help people to connect to the land and water, to fall in love with this special place, and to build understanding about how the watershed supports us and how we impact those resources. The CREW Education Fund helps pay for interns, field trips for school kids, and scholarships for future environmental resource professionals.

CREW is a leader in protecting water resources of Southwest Florida: During the past 25 years, the CREW Trust has helped acquire over 28,000 acres of the Corkscrew Regional Ecosystem Watershed. While land acquisition has slowed in recent years, the CREW Trust continues to look for opportunities to buy land both within the project boundaries and around its immediate boundaries. CREW contributes matching funds which help pave the way for larger purchases like the Caracara Prairie Preserve. Protecting the watershed improves water access and quality throughout southwest Florida.

CREW manages its donations carefully: Brenda Brooks is a detail person. I know because I worked for her for four years! As CREW’s Executive Director, she knows how important it is to spend donations wisely on programs that further the CREW mission. Under her watch 87% of all income is spent on programs. Every penny is accounted for and every dollar is leveraged into higher yields through frugal spending, wise investments and in-kind services. When you donate to CREW, you can be assured your money is managed well and used to do good things.

CREW saved my life: I’ve been walking on CREW lands since 1992, even before trails and signs and environmental education programs. It is the place that I go to for peace, solace, restoration and inspiration. Once, when life got to be too much, I turned to CREW and was lucky enough to find work there. Taking that job saved my life. It restored my soul and gave me purpose. It gave me days in the woods and waters learning the rhythms of the seasons, and sharing with wonderful people all the joy and beauty of CREW. I’ve seen CREW do the same for so many other people. It’s where people go to run, to meditate, to watch wildlife, to walk hand-in-hand with a loved one, to get engaged, to announce a pregnancy, to get married.

CREW is special. The CREW Trust is its guardian. Let’s help keep it that way. Give to CREW today. Give generously.

#Giving Tuesday – December 1st, 2015.

 

 

 

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#GivingTuesday: Why I Give to CREW

Deb 125x160Guest post by Deb Hanson

The CREW Land & Water Trust is launching its annual end-of-year giving campaign on #GivingTuesday, December 1st, 2015 – an international day of giving that harnesses the positive power of social media, and energizes people to give their money, time and talent to causes they care about.

This is a chance to give back to CREW and do good for all of southwest Florida, and I will be one of the first to donate – even though I don’t live in Florida anymore.

Here’s why I will give to CREW…

CREW Connects people to nature: When I give my hard-earned dollars to the CREW Trust, I know it will make a big impact. As a small nonprofit, the CREW Land and Water Trust depends on donor dollars to fund not only land acquisition, but its well-respected and highly successful environmental education programs. CREW’s high quality environmental education programs help people to connect to the land and water, to fall in love with this special place, and to build understanding about how the watershed supports us and how we impact those resources. The CREW Education Fund helps pay for interns, field trips for school kids, and scholarships for future environmental resource professionals.

CREW is a leader in protecting water resources of Southwest Florida: During the past 25 years, the CREW Trust has helped acquire over 28,000 acres of the Corkscrew Regional Ecosystem Watershed. While land acquisition has slowed in recent years, the CREW Trust continues to look for opportunities to buy land both within the project boundaries and around its immediate boundaries. CREW contributes matching funds which help pave the way for larger purchases like the Caracara Prairie Preserve. Protecting the watershed improves water access and quality throughout southwest Florida.

CREW manages its donations carefully: Brenda Brooks is a detail person. I know because I worked for her for four years! As CREW’s Executive Director, she knows how important it is to spend donations wisely on programs that further the CREW mission. Under her watch 87% of all income is spent on programs. Every penny is accounted for and every dollar is leveraged into higher yields through frugal spending, wise investments and in-kind services. When you donate to CREW, you can be assured your money is managed well and used to do good things.

CREW saved my life: I’ve been walking on CREW lands since 1992, even before trails and signs and environmental education programs. It is the place that I go to for peace, solace, restoration and inspiration. Once, when life got to be too much, I turned to CREW and was lucky enough to find work there. Taking that job saved my life. It restored my soul and gave me purpose. It gave me days in the woods and waters learning the rhythms of the seasons, and sharing with wonderful people all the joy and beauty of CREW. I’ve seen CREW do the same for so many other people. It’s where people go to run, to meditate, to watch wildlife, to walk hand-in-hand with a loved one, to get engaged, to announce a pregnancy, to get married.

CREW is special. The CREW Trust is its guardian. Let’s help keep it that way. Give to CREW today. Give generously.

#Giving Tuesday – December 1st, 2015.

 

 

 

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NEW Ways to Give to CREW this Holiday Season

Looking for a way to give back to your local community this holiday season?

The CREW Trust is preparing for the annual end-of-year giving by providing new ways to participate. Below are 2 ways you can get involved online this year to help make a difference in your community:

  1. amazon smile

Give to CREW every time you shop on Amazon. Through this program Amazon donates 0.5% of the price of your purchases to a charitable organization of your choice. So if you are online shopping this season make sure to go to http://smile.amazon.com/ before you buy and add CREWtrust (Corkscrew Regionalamazon smile  Ecosystem Watershed Trust Inc.)  as your Amazon Smile. After that just make sure your url has smile before amazon and you are good to go.

 

 

2.   Forget Black Friday and Cyber Monday put your money towards an international day of giving to non-profits. The CREW Trust is start off their end-of-year giving with #GivingTuesday December 1st, 2015. All proceeds go to our education fund. Participate by visiting our website: https://crewtrus.mystagingwebsite.com/donate/

#giving tuesday

Your gift is an investment in the future of southwest Florida – helping us to provide more high quality environmental education experiences for people of all ages – cradle to grave!

Help us make a difference. Give big. Give small. But give today.

Thank You

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Giving Thanks for our #GivingTuesday Campaign Donors

CREW Giving Tuesday Banner

This was CREW’s first year participating in #GivingTuesday. #GivingTuesday, is a global day dedicated to giving back to the community – and charity – through donations of time, money, talent, food, etc.

CREW chose to create a month-long #GivingTuesday campaign aimed at increasing its newly established Education Fund. CREW’s campaign ran from December 2nd through 31st, as an end-of-year giving opportunity, rounding out our 25th Anniversary year.

Thanks to you – our amazing CREW supporters – we received $1,100 through our #GivingTuesday campaign. We appreciate your support and wish you a happy 2015!

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A Look Back on our 25th Anniversary

pictures of CREW

CREW has had an incredible 25th Anniversary Year:

* Over 38,000 visitors to CREW Trails
* Two amazing fundraisers brought in over $30,000
* CREW volunteers donated 3,906 hours
* 4,600 people participated in our environmental education programs

January 2014, the CREW Trust began its 25th anniversary, celebrating 25 years of land conservation and environmental education in southwest Florida. From the kick-off event in frigid cold weather last January to our final #GivingTuesday end-of-year fundraising campaign running through December 31st, this celebration has had something for everyone – a wine & cheese social and a BBQ for CREW members, trail events that included a variety of guided walks about everything from mushrooms to mammals, a geocaching day, a horseback ride through Flint Pen Strand, a guided bicycle ride at Bird Rookery Swamp, a Vitamin N Walk for families, a fabulous 25th anniversary concert featuring the Sarah Hadeka Band and Deb & the Dynamics, and our first #GivingTuesday fundraiser. Thank you to every one of you who volunteered, participated, sponsored, supported, and gave to CREW during 2014, making our 25th anniversary such a success! We look forward to the next 25 years…

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Last Chance: End of year Giving #Givingtuesday

The CREW Trust is wrapping up its 25th anniversary with a year-end giving campaign centered around #GivingTuesday.

The campaign started December 2nd, 2014 and goes through December 31st.

 flyer for #givingtuesday

Help us raise $25,000 by the end of the year for our Education Fund. Donate online today at https://crewtrus.mystagingwebsite.com/donate/

  • Donors of $250 or more receive 4 general admission tickets to the CREW Concert and Silent Eco-Auction on March 21st, 2015.
  • Donors of $150 will be entered into a drawing for a variety of nature-related books
  • All donors of $25 or more will receive a link to a special set of CREW Wildlife photos taken by some of the best photographers in the area.

Your gift is an investment in the future of southwest Florida – helping us to provide more high quality environmental education experiences for people of all ages! With over 42,000 annual visitors to the CREW trails, there is much more to be done.

Help us make a difference. Give big. Give small. But give today.

Donate here picture

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Identify the Plant and Give the Gift of Education

Can you identify the plant in this photo?

dog fennel

This plant, with its feathery foliage and towering stature, grows alongside the trail out at the CREW Marsh Trails. The trails get a lot of visitors this time of year, especially 3rd graders from Collier County as part of their field trips to CREW. Schoolchildren visit CREW with their teachers and spend half of their morning on a nature hike, guided by our very own Jessi Drummond, who leads them through stops that feature explanations about prescribed burns, how to identify poison ivy and why it’s an important food source for deer, and even, if they are lucky, investigating scat (most often Bobcat scat). The other half of their field trip is spent dip netting and identifying the different living organisms in their water samples. The kids then have lunch, and leave- hopefully- with a pretty clear idea of why the watershed is important, with discussions that focus on habitat, the water cycle, and how the marshlands help clean our water.

This plant that is pictured above is one of our sensory teaching tools. Jessi stops with the students, takes off a few leaves, and passes them around to the students. “What do you smell?” she asks as little hands eagerly shoot up in the air. The students share that they smell everything from licorice to mint, and Jessi then lets them know that she smells pickles when she smells this plant which is Dog Fennel. Tying in their senses- hearing, touch, smell, sight- is an important part of the field trip for so many kids who just don’t spend enough time outside.

Education is a very important part of our mission at CREW, and this year, we’ve got a fundraising campaign for the month of December. Our goal is to raise $25,000, and an end-of-year gift from you, our supporters and members, can make that happen. It’s part of #GivingTuesday, an effort by many non-profits nationwide to remind everyone that after Black Friday and Cyper Monday, sometimes it’s nice to find a way to give back and pay it forward. Your donation will help further our education efforts at CREW and support all of our educational programs, including our field trips.

You can find out more about our #GivingTuesday campaign on our website (https://crewtrus.mystagingwebsite.com/2014/11/10/6996/). All donors receive a link to a special set of photographs of our CREW wildlife and donors at higher levels can receive special goodies, like tickets to our Concert and Silent Eco-Auction in March.

Next time you are out on the CREW Marsh Trails, watch out for the Dog Fennel, and take a moment to appreciate how this plant on the side of the trail has such a huge impact on 3rd graders in Collier County.

– Anne Reed

group of students on the CREW trails