Crowdfunding campaign launched for Pollinator Pathway in Branford
$1,250 crowdfunding goal to receive matching grant from Sustainable CT Community Match Fund
Willimantic, CT (07/17/2020) — Branford Fire Department is working to create a Pollinator Pathway in the town. Project organizers are calling on the community to join this initiative by donating to a crowdfunding campaign or volunteering in the effort. All community donations will be doubled by Sustainable CT's Community Match Fund, which is an innovative funding resource for public, community-led sustainability projects.
If the campaign reaches its $1,250 goal by its fundraising deadline of Aug. 31, the project will receive a matching grant of $1,250 from Sustainable CT. For project details and to donate, visit: www.Patronicity.com/bfdpollinatorpathway
The Pollinator Pathway project encourages the transformation of vacant land into pollinator-friendly habitats by planting native trees, shrubs and herbaceous ground cover. Pollinators are vital to food production, proper functioning of the ecosystem and our overall well-being. Plans are underway to transition grassy areas around the firehouse in Branford into a lush pollinator paradise. The total funding of $2,500 will go toward the purchase plants, soil amendments, mulch and other supplies needed to create and maintain a safe home for native birds, bees and butterflies.
"The Branford Fire Department is excited to support the pollinators, plants and people of our community by transitioning vacant land around the firehouse into a haven for native flora," said firefighter Alexandra Demitrack, who is leading the project. "We are raising money in order to transform grassy areas into fertile foundations that will support plants and pollinators for years to come. Your financial support will allow us to purchase soil amendments, seeds and shrubs. Thanks for your time and energy."
Sustainable CT is an initiative of the Institute for Sustainable Energy (ISE) at Eastern Connecticut State University that inspires, supports, and recognizes sustainability action by towns and cities statewide. The Community Match Fund, funded by the Smart Seed Fund, Emily Hall Tremaine Foundation and the Connecticut Green Bank, provides a dollar-for-dollar match to donations raised from the community, doubling local investment in projects.
"Through the Community Match Fund, we aim to put residents at the forefront of creating positive, impactful change," said Abe Hilding-Salorio, community outreach manager for Sustainable CT. "Match Fund projects are community led and community funded, demonstrating the power of people working together to make change in their communities."
Media Contacts
- Abe Hilding-Salorio, community outreach manager, Sustainable CT: hildingsalorioa@easternct.edu; 860-465-0256
- Alexandra Demitrack, firefighter/paramedic, Branford Fire Department: ademitrack@gmail.com; 203-654-0431
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Eastern Connecticut State University is the state of Connecticut's public liberal arts university, serving 5,000 students annually at its Willimantic campus and satellite locations. In addition to attracting students from 162 of Connecticut's 169 towns, Eastern also draws students from 34 other states and 19 countries. A residential campus offering 41 majors and 65 minors, Eastern offers students a strong liberal art foundation grounded in an array of applied learning opportunities. Ranked among the top 30 public universities in the North Region by U.S. News and World Report in its 2019 Best Colleges ratings, Eastern has also been awarded 'Green Campus' status by the Princeton Review 10 years in a row. For more information, visit www.easternct.edu.