ROCKFALL ANNUAL MEETING NOVEMBER 8

ROCKFALL FOUNDATION CELEBRATES 40^th ANNIVERSARY OF GRANTS & YOUTH ENVIRONMENTAL LEADERSHIP

High School students from Higganum and Ivoryton have been selected to receive 2012 Youth Environmental Leadership awards from The Rockfall Foundation of Middlesex County. The awards, which include a cash gift, will be presented by U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal at the foundation’s 2012 Annual Meeting and Awards Celebration, to be held on November 8 at the Wadsworth Mansion at Long Hill Estate in Middletown. Both the awards and celebration are sponsored by Middlesex Hospital.

The evening will also mark the 40^th anniversary of the foundation’s Green Grants program. Since 1972, Rockfall has awarded grants each year to organizations, schools and municipalities, with the majority of grants supporting environmental education and conservation initiatives involving children in elementary grades through high school.

Katie Mulligan of Ivoryton, a Junior at Valley Regional High School, was selected as a youth awardee for her work on the nationally-distributed Aqua Kids television series. The mission of the show is to educate today’s youth about preserving our marine and aquatic ecosystems, volunteer and recent co-host.

Higganum resident Samuel Parker, a Senior at Haddam-Killingworth High School, is being recognized for his work constructing and providing signage for the Haddam Land Trust’s nearly one-mile long Washburn Hill Trail.

The Rockfall Foundation’s Virginia R. Rollefson Youth Environmental Leadership Recognition Awards have been established to recognize Middlesex County high school students who are currently involved in significant environmental programs and projects in the areas of natural resource preservation, conservation, restoration or development. They are named in honor of Rockfall former Executive Director, Virginia R. “Ginny” Rollefson.

For information, visit www.rockfallfoundation.org. or call (860)347-0340.

 

Established in 1935, The Rockfall Foundation is one of Connecticut's oldest environmental organizations. Its mission is to be a catalyst - bringing people together and supporting organizations to conserve and enhance the county's natural environment. In addition to its grants awards, Rockfall also sponsors educational programs and symposia, and continues to hold and manage open space property in the county. It is headquartered in Middletown in the historic deKoven House Community Center on Washington Street, which it maintains and operates as a community center with meeting rooms and office space for locally-based environmental groups.