SOUTHWICK – The Franklin Land Trust is seeking donations from the community for their latest fundraiser geared towards preserving the North Pond land.
According to Mary Lynn Sabourin, who is the Director of Philanthropy at the Franklin Land Trust, the land preservation organization is looking to raise money for a challenge grant. The challenge grant is from the Amelia Peabody Charitable Fund, which is a fund that was dedicated to her in 1974. Peabody directed more than $8 million from the fund in 20 years until she died in 1984. Since Peabody’s death, the trustees of the fund have looked at more than 6,400 grant applications and have given away around $200 million to non-profit organizations in Massachusetts who focus on the areas of medicine, social welfare, visual arts, historic preservation, and land conservation.
Franklin Land Trust is looking to raise $200,000 for the challenge grant. (WNG File Photo)
Last spring, Sabourin applied to the grant and heard back from the organization that they’ve accepted the application. The Amelia Peabody Foundation then informed Sabourin that it would be a challenge grant. If the Franklin Land Trust were able to raise $200,000, the foundation would then match that money and then there would be $400,000 raised towards the Save North Pond project.
“We’re hoping to be able to take advantage of the entire $200,000,” said Sabourin.
As of right now, the Franklin Land Trust has received $40,000 from the residents of Southwick and surrounding towns. Since the challenge grant expires on December 15, the Franklin Land Trust only has a few more weeks to reach their ultimate goal.
“We really have to push it the last month to make it successful,” said Sabourin.
If anyone throughout the community wants to donate towards the challenge grant, you can visit the Save North Pond website, or mail a check to the Franklin Land Trust. Sabourin also noted that if individuals are interested in donating money but don’t want to donate large amounts of money all at once, they can make a pledge. A pledge will allow that person to pay their amount monthly and would run until the entire project closes on June 30, 2018.
Needing a total of $5 million to preserve the North Pond property by the deadline of June 30, 2018, the Franklin Land Trust has been able to raise $3.6 million from grants, donations, and numerous fundraisers over the last year.
