The foundation of great parks and communities

A riverfront festival in June, a fundraising banquet in April, an 800-acre park in the middle of the county, a nature center at the edge of town, and what used to be a restaurant on the banks of the Mississippi…

What do all these things have in common? 

A nonprofit foundation. 

Specifically, the Partners for Conservation Foundation, a 501(c)(3) charitable organization that supports conservation and outdoor recreation in Des Moines County. It has served as the nonprofit fundraising entity for my department, Des Moines County Conservation, for decades. It’s the foundation that raised much of the money to build Big Hollow Lake and many of the amenities that park now offers including campgrounds, an observatory, trails, a shooting range, and more. 

It’s the organization that raised money for Starr’s Cave Nature Center and many of the programs and activities that we host through there. 

And now it hosts Burlington River Days and leads the effort to turn the Big Muddy’s building into a regional interpretive center and restaurant. 

As county budgets get tighter, it is also providing sustained funding to the conservation department to meet growing annual budget gaps. 

But a foundation doesn’t actually raise or spend money. People do. A “foundation” is just an entity that exists on paper. A file in an IRS office somewhere. In practice, though, it’s a collection of people rallied around a common cause. In this case, parks and conservation. 

The money that the foundation raised over the years was raised by people. It was board members and volunteers going out asking for donations and painting a picture of what the future could be. A future of better parks and healthier lands and waters. It was people in this community rallying around those visions and writing checks, directing memorials, and bequeathing funds through wills and estate planning. 

Many people before me raised the funds, made the donations, wrote the grants and built Big Hollow, Starr’s Cave, and the Flint River Trail into what they are today. Other foundations also helped build – and currently sustain – our hospital, our library, our schools and countless other institutions upon which we rely. 

I see now why they’re called “foundations.” That work truly is foundational to great communities like ours. 

And all of those foundations are collections of people. Community members that care enough to dedicate their time, their money, and sometimes both. They do so without fanfare and little to no recognition. 

For those of you that are involved with, or contribute to, a nonprofit or charity of any sort, this is me recognizing your contribution. Thank you. 

In the coming months, there will be multiple opportunities to support the Partners for Conservation Foundation in particular…and have a good time doing so. The first is a Battle of the Bands event at Memorial Auditorium on March 14. This event will serve as the official kick off for Burlington River Days and the winning band will not only receive $1,000, but they’ll be invited to open the show on Saturday of River Days. 

To sign up your band, go to BurlingtonRiverDays.com. Otherwise, the event is public and free to attend. 

Next up is the foundation’s annual “I Heart County Parks” Fundraising Banquet on April 4 at Barn on the Ridge north of Burlington. Like many of the banquets you may be familiar with, this event will feature multiple raffles and a live and silent auction along with a catered BBQ dinner. Tickets are $45 and can be purchased online at www.PartnersforConservationFoundation.org. 

For businesses, there are multiple sponsorship opportunities available to showcase your company to the community at all of these events. 

And last but certainly not least is Burlington River Days, June 11-13 on Burlington’s riverfront. Building on the momentum of last year’s inaugural event that drew over 12,000 people over three days, this year’s event adds a second stage to allow for more bands, announcements for which drop every Friday on the Burlington River Days Facebook page. Last week was the announcement that regional favorite Captain Geech and the Shrimp Shack Shooters (say that three times fast) will be Thursday’s entertainment. 

In addition to concerts, Burlington River Days features a boat parade down Jefferson, a boat giveaway, a carnival, the River Days Olympics (games and challenges hosted by local conservation organizations), and new this year: a BBQ competition. 

Hit up BurlingtonRiverDays.com for more information. All proceeds from the event support the foundation. 

Your support of these events – whether it’s rocking out on the riverfront or bidding on an auction item or marketing your business through a sponsorship – ultimately supports parks, conservation areas and programs, and hopefully even a new eco-focused riverfront facility. And in supporting those places and programs, you support the people that benefit from them. 

And that support truly is the foundation of this great community.