CARBONDALE – The Friends of the Shawnee National Forest will use proceeds from its 15th anniversary fundraiser to strengthen its sustainability and stewardship efforts in the Shawnee National Forest and to supplement educational expenses through scholarship funding for students enrolled in the School of Forestry and Horticulture at Southern Illinois University Carbondale.
The event, held November 8 at Alto Vineyards in Alto Pass, was attended by more than 150 people.
The final tally of all donations stands at $4,712.
“We want to thank all of our members, our sponsors and everyone who attended for their generosity and their awareness of our work in the Shawnee,” said Board Chair John Wohlwend. ‘Their donations will enable us to enhance our endeavors and support the great work done by the U.S. Forest Service.”
During the event, Wohlwend announced an initial donation to the Friends of the Shawnee Forest scholarship fund, which will go directly to forestry students at SIU.
“This initial $500 donation gets our scholarship drive off on the right foot,” said Wohlwend. “In addition to the initial donation, a portion of the money raised will go toward the scholarship fund.”
Due to the success of the celebration, Wohlwend says plans are already under way to hold a similar event next year.
“Our board of directors worked tirelessly to make this fundraiser a success. We hope to carry that momentum into an even bigger event in the future.”
The Friends of the Shawnee National Forest is a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting responsible outdoor recreation, tourism, environmental education, and land stewardship on the Shawnee National Forest.