An independent news publication of
United Way of Lancaster County

Search

Community Foundation awards $274,000 for environmental initiatives

Representatives of organizations receiving “Our Planet” grants pose for a photo, joined by the Lancaster County Community Foundation’s Fran Rodriguez, left, and Dave Koser, right, at the Farm at Eagle’s Ridge on Thursday, Oct. 17, 2024. (Photo: Tim Stuhldreher)

The Lancaster County Community Foundation awarded $274,000 in grants to seven organizations on Thursday for projects promoting conservation, sustainability and environmental education.

The “Our Planet” awards constitute the fourth and final round of the foundation’s “Shaping Tomorrow” initiative, through which it has disbursed more than $1 million in grants to celebrate its 100th anniversary. The new grants were announced at a reception at The Farm at Eagle’s Ridge and are as follows:

NonprofitAmountProject
Lancaster Conservancy
$50,000Universally accessible paths at Climbers Run Nature Center, connecting new ADA parking spaces to the barn, outdoor classroom and features such as the pond and trout stream.
Lancaster Farmland Trust$50,000Creation of an agricultural education center at the Miller Farm in East Hempfield Township.
RegenAll$50,000“Energize Lancaster,” providing energy efficiency consultation and turnkey projects to local households, such as insulation, air sealing, heat pumps, and solar installations.
Spanish American Civic Association (SACA)$50,000“Sidewalk Stewardship,” an initiative in Southeast Lancaster city to promote biodiverse streetscape plantings, weekly resident-led litter cleanups, public art installation and environmental education.
Let’s Go 1-2-3 $36,000“Saving Nature in Youth Centered Spaces,” an environmental awareness program that includes community storytelling, student advisory panels and hands-on stewardship.
EDC Foundation $25,000Support for EDC Lancaster to develop an outdoor recreation strategic plan for Lancaster County.
Acorn Acres Wildlife Rehabilitation $13,000Acorn Acres’ expansion and relocation.

The Eagle’s Ridge event featured displays by local environmental organizations, music by the band Lavacave and a keynote address from Emily Landis, director of education & environmental strategy at The Steinman Foundation, who offered visions of Lancaster County’s environmental future 10 years, 50 years and 100 years out.

The reception at The Farm at Eagle’s Ridge. (Photos: Tim Stuhldreher)

For the 10-year time frame, she highlighted the importance of environmental awareness and education. That’s one of the goals behind the Little Conestoga Creek Blue-Green Corridor project, which the foundation is backing. It involves restoring 1.7 miles of the impaired waterway and building 3.3 miles of accessible trails around it. It’s envisioned as an outdoor classroom, where children and adults can learn what a healthy riparian ecosystem looks like.

Emily Landis

Her theme for the next 50 years was “Connectivity,” exemplified by the plans that are coming together to create an environmental and recreational corridor along the Conestoga River, including an environmental center on Sunnyside Peninsula, also a Steinman Foundation project.

As a 100-year perspective, she proposed “Reciprocity.” We must learn to see ourselves, she said, not as consumers set apart from nature, but “eco-citizens,” respectful of the natural world and its limits. She recommended “The Serviceberry, Abundance & Reciprocity in the Natural World,” a forthcoming book by Robin Wall Kimmerer.

Sam Bressi

The “Our Planet” allocations follow the foundation’s grants earlier this month for the “Next Generation,” and this past spring for Creative Expression and Well-Being & Vibrancy.

“We know that we, today, stand on the shoulders of giants,” said the foundation’s President, Sam Bressi, referring to those who created the organization a century ago. He encouraged his audience to follow their example.

“We can act now to ensure a brighter tomorrow for generations of Lancastrians to come,” he said.