Audubon Center Seeking Donations During "Give Local" Tomorrow & Weds.

The Audubon Center at Bent of the River in Southbury is seeking donations during the 2014 “Give Local Greater Waterbury & Litchfield Hills” campaign from noon on May 6 to noon on May 7 via an online local fundraiser. “As one of many non-profit organizations in the area,” stated Leslie Kane, the Center’s executive director, ”we are seeking contributions during the 24-hour campaign to support our year-round environmental and wildlife conservation activities.”

The Audubon Center is funded largely by contributions from private individual donors, companies and corporations. The 24-hour online giving campaign May 6 to May 7 is being organized by the Connecticut Community Foundation and The Bent will receive 94% of every donation after a 6% processing charge. All donations to the Bent of the River can be made through a special website created by the non-profit Foundation, https://www.givelocalccf.org.

“Last year we learned that people enjoyed  donating on line which was quick, easy and safe. People I’ve known for years were eager to donate with such ease and during a designated 24-hour time frame,” stated Kane.

“Tomorrow and Wednesday's campaign is perfectly timed during the peak of our bird migration season. It is also well-timed for individuals, companies and organizations to make tax-deductible gifts to their favorite non-profit organizations,” added Kane. “Many local people are not aware the Bent depends heavily upon donations from many sources to keep our land accessible to birders, hikers, nature lovers, walkers and runners year-round.

Every dollar donated to The Bent during the Give Local campaign will go directly to maintaining this magnificent natural treasure. Every dollar we receive will be generously matched by the Connecticut Community Foundation and make the Bent eligible for matching funds from a national pool.” If donors spend some time on the www.givelocalCCF.org website they can time their donations to match with qualifying bonuses and make their donation go even further!  All donations are 100% tax deductible.” 

The mission of the not-for-profit Audubon Center is to conserve and restore natural ecosystems, focusing on birds, other wildlife and their habitats. Located along the Pomperaug River and bordering Little Pootatuck Brook, the Audubon Center at Bent of the River nature center and sanctuary at 185 East Flat Hill Road in the Southbury hamlet of South Britain is a private organization that protects over 700 acres of numerous natural ecosystems, habitats, un-fragmented forest, grasslands, meadows, swamps and a portion of the Pomperaug River. More than 460 acres of the Bent were bequeathed to the National Audubon Society in 1993 by the late Althea Clark, a devoted naturalist, conservationist and land preservation visionary.

Open to the public year-round, ongoing activities offered at The Bent include trail walks, Audubon hikes, summer camp, environmental education and outreach programs. The Bent features more than 15 miles of un-manicured all-natural hiking trails on varied and beautiful terrains including forests, riversides, and meadows. Many ecosystems thrive at The Bent including deciduous and coniferous forest, rocky ledges, grasslands, old meadows, vernal pools, red maple swamps, and river habitats. Audubon’s ownership of both sides of the Pomperaug River provide almost one mile of an undisturbed and wild environment where beaver, muskrat, river otter, and mink can be found, and Bald Eagles regularly fish. More than 170 species of birds have been recorded and The Bent’s highly diverse eco-systems have been identified as an Important Bird Area (IBA) in Connecticut, protecting open land and wildlife over one square mile.

“Give Local” Donations

Throughout the 24 hour ‘Give Local’ fundraising campaign from noon tomorrow, May 6 to noon on Weds., May 7, donations made to the special website for the Bent will be posted on the Bent’s Facebook and website pages. “As we did in 2013,” explained Kane, “we will keep our donors closely informed and so excited they will encourage other people via tweets, Facebook and other social media and emails and phone calls to join in this unique opportunity to help the Audubon Center receive much-needed and much-appreciated support from the area’s residents and organizations. Every donation will help The Bent become eligible for special prizes and bonuses.”

To donate to Audubon Center at The Bent of River during the 2014 Give Local Greater Waterbury & Litchfield Hills fundraising campaign go to www.givelocalccf.org any time between 12:0 p.m. Tuesday, May 6 and 12:00 p.m. on Wednesday, May 7. Donations of $10 or more can be made via a credit or debit cards. Search the site for Audubon Center at Bent of the River by name and the donation will be made through the Connecticut Community Foundation, and that name will appear on credit and debit card statements next to donation amounts.

Once a donation is made, the donor will immediately receive an email from the Connecticut Community Foundation confirming the tax-deductible gift. Gift givers are encouraged to retain that e email for tax record purposes. To learn more, and to donate, visit https://www.givelocalccf.org.