Watershed Association Honored with Thomas H. Kean Partnership in Philanthropy Award

On Friday, May 7, 2004 the Great Swamp Watershed Association received the 2004 Thomas H. Kean Award from Partnership in Philanthropy (PIP). The award was given for success in utilizing PIP's assistance to its best advantage and achieving outstanding results in diverse areas such as mission and planning, financial management, marketing and public relations, and fundraising. Receiving the award for the Watershed Association was Julia Somers, Executive Director.

Partnership in Philanthropy was started in 1991 as an outreach program of the New Jersey Chapter of the National Society of Fund Raising Executive. PIP is a unique cooperative effort between professional fundraising executives and grantmakers. According to Becky Dembo, Executive Director of PIP, "PIP helps nonprofits raise more money, so they can serve more people, which in turn makes communities thrive. PIP consulted with the Great Swamp Watershed Association six years ago and they have shown significant growth and measurable increases since that time and we are proud to honor their achievements."

On receiving the award, Julia Somers said: " We are very grateful for this award, and particularly appreciate the work that Partnership in Philanthropy does. With the help of their consultants and the hard work of our staff, we are in sound fiscal health, have a great engaged board, but we know that we can always improve on the work we do and the way we accomplish our goals."

Great Swamp Watershed Association was created in 1981 to protect the Great Swamp watershed basin. Celebrating more than 20 years as a non-profit organization, the Watershed Association relies solely on membership and contributions to protect the continued health of our watershed's area. If you're not already a member, become one today. For more information and a listing of "Do The Swamp Thing, 2004" events, visit the Watershed Association website at www.greatswamp.org.

(Left to right)  Heath McLendon, PIP, presented the award on behalf of the 
Hon. Thomas H. Kean; Julia Somers, Executive Director of the Great Swamp 
Watershed Association; Nancy Conger, Development Chair of the Great Swamp 
Watershed Association; and James Hohn of PIP.