College of Charleston Graduate Students Select Charleston Parks Conservancy as Nonprofit of Choice
CHARLESTON, S.C. – The College of Charleston Graduate Student Association has selected the Charleston Parks Conservancy for its 2010-2011 Adopt-An-Organization Outreach Program. The students will be working with the Conservancy in Cannon Park to assist with park renovations and build support among the community.
Plans for Cannon Park include renovating the large flower bed behind the columns from what was once the Charleston Museum. Students will be going door to door in the neighborhoods surrounding Cannon Park to spread the word about the park and upcoming renovations. Work on the $5,000 project will begin in March, and the Graduate Student Association is raising money to help offset the cost.
“The Graduate Student Association has always been an organization geared toward bringing students together to create a voice for the graduate student body at College of Charleston,” says Maggie Travis, the association’s community outreach chairwoman who is pursuing a master’s in corporate communication. “One of GSA’s primary goals as an organization is to shed light on the importance of giving back to the Charleston community.”
Travis says the association’s decision to select the Conservancy as its philanthropy of choice was an excellent one. “The Conservancy opened its arms to GSA and was ecstatic at the opportunity to forge new relationships with part of the College of Charleston academic community. We hope this project will foster a continued and successful relationship with the Conservancy.”
From 3:30-5 p.m. on Wednesday, March 16, the association will host a meet and greet for neighbors interested in learning more about the project, the Conservancy and how to get involved. Garden installation is scheduled for 9 a.m. Saturday, April 30 with a celebration and signage event slated for May.
“Our organization is built on community partnerships so we were thrilled when the graduate students at the College of Charleston wanted to work with us,” says Mary Neves Richards, events director for the Conservancy. “We look forward to their help in Cannon Park and hope their efforts will encourage others to volunteer at Cannon Park.”
For more information on the Cannon Park project or to make donate specifically to the park, visit www.CharlestonParksConservancy.org.
About the Charleston Parks Conservancy
Headed by prominent horticulturalist Jim Martin, the Charleston Parks Conservancy is a nonprofit organization dedicated to further beautifying City of Charleston parks and green spaces. With the help of its Park Angels volunteer force, the Conservancy seeks to rally community support and pride behind the effort to create a lasting movement. For more information about or to support the Charleston Parks Conservancy, please visit www.charlestonparksconservancy.org.