Aquidneck Land Trust ("ALT") Executive Director Chuck Allott is thrilled to announce that ALT has recently received an extremely generous testamentary gift from the late Marcella Clark McCormack of Newport, RI, in the amount of approximately $2,800,000. Mrs. McCormack was the daughter of the late Jane Pickens, also of Newport. The gift is a perpetual restricted gift and therefore, the amounts disbursed for purposes of conservation stewardship or land acquisition will come from the annual income derived from the principal. In her lasting memory, the gift will be deposited in an investment account named, "The Marcella Clark McCormack Stewardship Endowment Fund." ALT offers its heartfelt thanks to Mrs. McCormack for her incredible philanthropy, as well as to her estate and trust representatives, Ms. Diana Bunting and Ms. Elise O'Shaughnessy, for their outstanding work. Aquidneck Islanders will benefit immeasurably for generations to come.
Mrs. McCormack was an avid arborist and conservationist. In July of 2009, she donated a conservation easement to ALT on the historic Merrillton estate, which had been in her family for decades. The estate, built in 1853 by Samuel Powel, includes 2.29 conserved acres on Bowery Street, near Bellevue Avenue, in Newport. In addition to affording beautiful scenic vistas, Merrillton has lovely and spacious grounds which include one of the largest documented trees in Rhode Island - a European Hornbeam tree. The conserved property also contains "Marcella's Woods," a natural highly vegetated area served by private walking trails. Mrs. McCormack's generous gift places her in ALT's "Green Island Society," an honorary circle of individuals who have made provisions in their wills or testamentary trusts for the benefit of ALT. Through her great generosity, ALT will act to keep its promise that the natural areas covered by this donation shall, "remain undeveloped in perpetuity."
Mrs. McCormack recognized the costs of land conservation and stewardship and our urgent need to save local parcels continue to grow. To donate to ALT or to learn about our Green Island Society or becoming a member, please contact Jessica Pohl, Development Director, at jpohl@ailt.org or 401.849.2799 x 18.
ALT's time-sensitive mission is to conserve Aquidneck Island's open spaces and natural character for the lasting benefit of our community. The organization has conserved 2,429.60 acres on 69 properties across Aquidneck Island since its founding in 1990. ALT is a 501(c)(3)
