(Credit: Rowan University, 2022)
Virginia Rowan Smith
The Lake George Land Conservancy has announced the second public challenge by Manny Smith and Virginia Rowan Smith. The LGLC challenge will encourage people to join the Land and Water Society, LGLC’s legacy society that celebrates those who gift or pledge money to the LGLC, a nonprofit based in Bolton Landing.
The challenge is simple: Now until Nov. 30, the Smith’s will donate $5,000 to the LGLC for every new pledge they receive up to $300,000. Pledges can be made in any method, including naming the LGLC as a beneficiary in a life insurance policy, and in any amount, big or small, with pledges above $5,000 being matched, according to the press announcement.
The matching funds are added to the Virginia Rowan Smith Endowment that helps with current and future capital projects.
“We rely heavily on the generosity of donors who wish to make a difference in the future of Lake George. In Fiscal year 2021, 85% of our support came from individual donations,” said Sarah Hoffman, Communications and Outreach Manager for the LGLC.
“[The] primary mission is to protect the water quality of Lake George through land conservation. In addition, our efforts include the protection of the region’s natural, scenic, historic, and recreational resources, all of which contribute to the unique beauty and inherent value of the Lake George watershed,” Hoffman said.
LGLC’s land conservation is done through ownership of land and working with landowners who also wish to protect their own land, officials said.
Since its beginning in 1988 the LGLC has permanently preserved over 12,000 acres of wilderness, almost 7 miles of shoreline, and owns or manages 35 parks and preserves that serve the public, according to their website.
The Smith’s presented their first challenge in 2020 which proved to be a success, Hoffman said.
The outcome included 42 new members who pledged to support the LGLC through legacy giving, and more than $400,000 was provided by the Smiths. The matching goes into the endowment, which Hoffman says “is specifically for land conservation projects, but not earmarked for a specific region or project. The endowment allows us to act quickly, if needed, when opportunities to protect critical lands become available within the watershed.”
“Key to this success is that land conservation is permanent- once established, protected lands remain protected in perpetuity, creating a lasting legacy for future generations to enjoy,” Hoffman said.
Pledges can be made online, or a paper copy can be mailed to the LGLC. Pledges may be kept anonymous, or a name can be included by the donor. More information on pledging can be found at their website.
Viriginia Rowan Smith has an MBA from the University of California, Berkeley. She is the daughter of Hank and Betty Rowan, who founded Inductotherm Corporation and gave $100 million to the Glassboro State College in 1992, which was renamed Rowan University in the family's honor. The elder Rowans were long time supporters of the Lake George Land Conservancy.