The Conservation Foundation

Acquired 6 properties totaling 416 acres. Restored and managed more than 1,137 acres of natural area. Served more than 650 families from our organic vegetable farm, including low-income families, and began a program to grow and deliver more than 20,000 pounds of food to local food pantries per year. Provided professional staffing to 4 local watershed groups that work to protect The stream resource quality for 7.4 million people residing in The salt creek, dupage, des plaines river, and chicago area waterway system watersheds. Completed a new training manual and curriculum for public agencies and private contractors who lay salt in The winter. Provided over 40 educational presentations on local Conservation topics, reaching over 1,500 people. Organized The dupage river and fox river cleanup events removing 7 tons of trash, engaging more than 500 volunteers and cleaning 47 miles of rivers. Expanded nature rx program into kane county; involved more than 1,400 people in The take-a-hike challenge. Certified 35 properties Conservation at home and Conservation at work, distributed 1,200 rain barrels to local communities, installed 3 new pollinator and native plant demonstration gardens, and distributed thousands of native plants, trees and shrubs to homeowners. Implemented 9 Conservation in your community initiatives in 3 counties. Served more than 1,700 children in our environmental education programs.