Thanks for Giving - The Four Mile Run Conservatory Foundation

Formed in 2016, following years of community efforts to foster the preservation, beautification, improvement, maintenance, and enjoyment of Four Mile Run Park, the Four Mile Run Conservatory Foundation already has been awarded grants that created a series of three events this Fall, engaging volunteers in conservation activities in Four Mile Run Park. Now, as they embark on a fundraising effort to help abate litter in our parks and streams, the Conservatory Foundation sends out this Thanksgiving greeting.

For the Four Mile Run Conservatory Foundation's first Thanksgiving, we wanted to acknowledge and thank you for helping to make our first year a success. We are especially grateful for:

• Volunteers who contributed more than 250 hours of their time to benefit Four Mile Run Park by participating in our programs, removing invasive species, planting trees, and beautifying the park.

• Grant funders who have helped us get underway this year: the 395 Express Lanes Community Grant Program and Action Alexandria's Green Ideas Challenge.

• Program partners: Alexandria Department of Recreation, Parks, and Cultural Activities, the Four Mile Run Farmers & Artisans Market, Jack Taylor's Alexandria Toyota, Trees Alexandria, TreeStewards of Alexandria/Arlington.

• Individual donors who support our work through Spring2Action Alexandria, Razoo Foundation's #GivingTuesday, and AmazonSmile. With generous support from our park partners, we are 70% of the way toward our $10,000 ‘Kick the Habit’ fundraising goal to help eliminate litter by promoting re-usable water bottles. With these funds, the plan is to pilot the installation of bottle and jug filling stations.

We wish you a happy Thanksgiving!

Kurt Moser

President

P.S. Don't forget to check out our latest wildlife cam photos at www.fourmilerun.org!

About the Four Mile Run Conservatory Foundation

The Four Mile Run Conservatory Foundation is a 501(c)(3) non-profit corporation and volunteer organization formed in 2016 following years of community efforts to foster the preservation, beautification, improvement, maintenance, and enjoyment of Four Mile Run Park.

Our mission is to engage and educate the public, and to maintain the trail system and natural lands around lower Four Mile Run to improve Four Mile Run Park, and to foster respect and stewardship for this unique urban ecosystem and its natural, historic, and recreational resources. Our vision is a Four Mile Run Park that is fully utilized and appreciated by its neighbors and other stakeholders as an important part of community life, a resource for recreation, and a model for natural lands maintenance in an urban setting.