A recent grant by the Summit (NJ) Area Public Foundation has helped the Great Swamp Watershed Association reach toward its goal in foundation support in 2001, according to David A. Budd, Chairman of the Board of the Watershed Association.

The grant represents the Summit Area Public Foundation’s ongoing support of the Watershed Association. The funds received will help the Watershed Association expand their efforts to encourage donations of environmentally sensitive lands and/or easements with respect to such land.

Receiving the grant, Mr. Budd commented: "We’re thankful that the Summit Area Public Foundation understands and supports the work we are doing—and especially how that work directly and indirectly benefits people who live in and adjacent to Great Swamp Watershed. All of the grants we received will help us to expand our open space and environmental education programs in the coming years."

The 2,500-member Great Swamp Watershed Association (approximately 15% of whose members live in Summit) was formed in 1981 to encourage good management policies and practices on behalf of the 12,000 acres of public lands within the Great Swamp Watershed. These lands include the Great Swamp National Wildlife Refuge; the Morristown National Historic Park; over 2,000 acres of public parks managed by Morris and Somerset counties; and several hundred acres of additional conserved lands.

Other foundation support gratefully received by the Watershed Association in 2001 came from the Geraldine R. Dodge Foundation; the Hyde & Watson Foundation; Charles and Lucille King Family Foundation; Kings Super Markets, Inc.; A.P. Kirby, Jr. Foundation; F.M. Kirby Foundation; Fanny and Svante Knistrom Foundation; Leavens Foundation; and several other organizations including a number that requested anonymity.

As a non-profit organization, the Watershed Association relies on membership and contributions to protect the continued health of our watershed’s area. For information about how to become a member or volunteer, or how to provide financial support, call 973.966.1900 or visit their website at www.greatswamp.org.

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