Conservation Foundation Honours Award Recipients, Celebrates Conservation Successes

Essex Region – The Essex Region Conservation Foundation has recognized two local organizations for their philanthropy at its Donor Appreciation and Awards, held on June 11.

“Conservation Foundation Awards have been presented since 2012, honouring those who have generously supported the conservation projects and programs that make the Windsor and Essex region healthy and sustainable,” said Foundation Executive Director Tim Byrne.

The Clifford Hatch Conservation Foundation Award was presented to the Friends of the John R. Park Homestead Inc., which was established in 1996 as a not-for-profit organization and an affiliate of the Ontario Historical Society to support the operation of the Homestead as a living history museum through voluntarism, special events and advocacy. 

For decades, the Friends have been raising funds to support maintenance and restoration at the Homestead through a variety of activities. These funds are then donated back to the Homestead for capital projects. In recent years, the Friends contributed to the sawmill roof replacement and the Monarch Butterfly exhibit. In 2020 and 2021, they contributed many thousands of dollars toward the new Conservation Centre which now provides an accessible, climate-controlled education space. Most recently, the Friends contributed significant funds towards the once-in-a-lifetime restoration of the home of John and Amelia Park, which just celebrated its grand reopening in May.

The Essex Region Conservation Foundation Award for Outstanding Corporate Contribution recognizes a business entity that has made significant contributions to the Foundation’s fundraising goals, and ADM Cares was presented with this award.  ADM is a leader in global nutrition that unlocks the power of nature to envision, create and combine ingredients and flavors for food and beverages, supplements, animal feed, and more.

Over the past two years, ADM has invested nearly $100,000 Canadian dollars to green the Greenway trail systems, take climate action and support outdoor education programs for children. In 2024, ADM Cares also supported five watershed cleanups across the region and enabled 131 volunteers to remove 755 pounds of litter from the Belle River, Pike Creek, Little River, Turkey Creek and the Canard River.

“Over and above what they are accomplishing in our corner of the world, ADM Cares is making a global impact with its philanthropy, particularly in the areas of sustainable agriculture, food security, and advancing education,” said Byrne. “We are so grateful to both ADM Cares and the Friends of the John R. Park Homestead for their incredible investments in a future of sustainability for our region and beyond.”

The Foundation also thanked the many supporters who raised over $655,557 for conservation projects like tree planting and restoration, improving Devonwood Conservation Area, supporting children in curriculum-based outdoor education and restoring the John R. Park Homestead. You can read the Foundation’s Gratitude Report and watch its impact video at https://essexregionconservation.ca/foundation.

“We are so grateful to all of you - the many donors and supporters who continue to make an impact in our region, to make it the Place for Life,” said Terry Patterson, Foundation Chair. “Whether you contributed a few dollars or many thousands, you are making a difference in this place we live, work, play and call home.”

Since 1977, the Essex Region Conservation Foundation has been enriching and sustaining the Windsor-Essex-Pelee Island region as the Place for Life.