To Those Who Love Florida
Santa Fe River by Randy Trainer Photography.
“The lure of conservation is that one person can make a difference. The history of the conservation movement is woven through personal stories of ordinary people drawn to a special place and found a way to protect it as a legacy for the enjoyment of future generations. Through their deeds there are many grandparents of the future, and their stories weave important threads into the rich fabric of Florida’s history.”
To those who love Florida,
What a year it has been. We have been through it the past few years, haven’t we? But in typical Floridian fashion, we press forward with grace, humor, determination, and a unique-to-Florida love for where we live.
For me, 2022 has been a year of nostalgia. I am celebrating my twenty-year high school reunion, while simultaneously coming to terms with the fact that my oldest child is now in middle school walking the same halls I once walked. I catch myself driving around town talking about what used to be and what used to not be. I remember these same discussions in the car with my now 101-year-old grandmother, as she would reflect on the way things were and how much they have changed. (And oh my, how things have changed!)
What an interesting position it is to see my grandmother (who was born in 1921) talk to my son (who was born in 2010). While they both live in Florida, their lived experiences are not only in seemingly different states – but entirely different worlds altogether. It hits me hard that time passes, whether we are paying attention or not.
It’s time to pay attention. I want to drive my great-grandchildren around my town and tell them the story of how I was on the team that fought to protect the landscapes that make Florida, Florida. I want my great-great-grandchildren to have wild spaces to explore, to connect with nature, to identify native plants, to find native animals roaming freely in their natural habitat.
It’s time to act. Join our team, and be part of Florida's conservation legacy. Your donations save land – it’s that simple. Your support empowers us to continue to take the lead in coordinating land protection projects across the state on a scale that is unprecedented. We are ready, willing, and able to double down on our efforts to save Florida’s iconic lands, and your financial support allows us to move quickly and confidently toward implementing our plans to increase pace and scale.
So today, I urge you to make a generous donation to Conservation Florida. Conserving Florida is the best gift you can give and is truly the gift that keeps on giving. Make a gift for your grandmother, for yourself, for your friends, and for your future great-great-grandchildren who will explore Florida fearlessly. Allow your love for Florida and her wild lands to guide you through this season of giving.
Join Conservation Florida on the frontlines and be part of the team that actively protects and preserves the best of wild Florida for future generations.
Now, let’s keep Florida wildly beautiful.
About Conservation Florida:
Conservation Florida is a statewide accredited land conservancy working to conserve Florida’s water, wildlife, wild places, and protect the Florida Wildlife Corridor. The organization’s conservation projects support Florida’s native plants and wildlife, fresh water, wildlife corridors, family farms and ranches, the economy, and nature-based recreation. Since its founding in 1999, Conservation Florida has prioritized strategic and evidence-based land protection and has saved over 30,000 acres of critical habitat.