CONTACT:
Marianne Nelson,
executive director,
(847) 888-1897
fax: (847) 531-6156
e-mail: fvlf@sbcglobal.net

Date: June 15, 2003
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Challenge grant to protect land from development

ELGIN -- Fox Valley Land Foundation recently received a $40,000 "Land Conservation Challenge Grant" from the Illinois Clean Energy Community Foundation. The land foundation is a non-profit land trust that works with private landowners in Kane County to ensure their property is protected from development. It is a member of the Land Trust Alliance, a national land conservation movement comprised of more than 1,200 regional land trusts that together have conserved more than 6.2 million acres of private land in the United States.

Over the next two years, Illinois Clean Energy will match all new contributions up to $40,000 – dollar for dollar – to preserve and enhance natural areas, one of its funding priorities.

"This challenge grant will enable Fox Valley Land Foundation to tell potential contributors that their investment will double," said Tom Armstrong, president of Fox Valley Land Foundation.

The organization collaborates with public and private interests to protect open spaces and natural areas. Landowners can guarantee that the land they love – whether a field of wildflowers, a corner woodlot or a pristine wetland – will be preserved forever in the condition they choose. Through this process, landowners also can realize tax benefits from conservation easements, bargain sales or outright gifts of land.

"Given the rapid pace of development in Kane County, this is a critical time to work to protect open lands and natural areas for the future," said Marianne Nelson, executive director of Fox Valley Land Foundation.

Other 2003 Illinois Clean Energy Community Foundation grantees include: The Nature Conservancy, Illinois Audubon Society, McHenry County Conservation Foundation, Forest Preserve District of Will County, Tri-County Regional Planning Commission and the Land Conservancy of McHenry County.

More information is available from Nelson at (847) 888-1897.