Nature Foundation Donates $421K To Forest Preserve Of Will County

WILL COUNTY, IL — The Nature Foundation of Will County presented its largest donation to date to the Forest Preserve District of Will County during the Feb. 9 meeting of the preserve Board of Commissioners, according to a release from the preserve.

The check totaled $421,000 and the money will be used for a variety of Forest Preserve projects and programs in 2023, the preserve said.

Foundation Chairperson Ragan Pattison said the donation would not be possible without the support of the Foundation’s stakeholders.

“I’d like to take a moment to thank our growing community of donors and native plant sale supporters for their incredible generosity and for their continued support of these initiatives," she said in a release.

The biggest portion of the donation, $375,000, came from the Dollinger family. The donation, and a second installment of an equal amount that will come later in the year, will be used for improvements at the Lake Chaminwood Preserve near Channahon.

The Foundation’s native plant sales in 2022 raised $45,500. Another $57,000 raised during the Foundation’s year-end campaign came from both individual and corporate donors, according to the preserve.

The corporate donors and their projects are: Enbridge Alliance, birding events at Four Rivers Environmental Education Center in Channahon; Pembina, Forest Invaders School Program and natural area restoration work at Four Rivers; and the Vulcan Materials Company Foundation, five way finding signs at Whalon Lake preserve in Naperville.

Additional funding will be used for "The Buzz" nature sure, Willy's Wilderness website, a new costume for Willy the Forest Preserve mascot, the Take It Outside Campaign, and the "Journey Stories" exhibition at Isle a la Cache Museum in Romeoville.

Donations will also be used for four health and wellness events: the Will County Triple Crown Hiking Challenge, Woods Walk, the Harvest Hustle Virtual 5K and a Pumpkin Fun Run, according to the preserve.

The Nature Foundation was created in 2010, and is a nonprofit dedicated to supporting the Forest Preserve District's education, recreation and conservation programs.