Toast to the Trees

“Toast to the Trees” celebration with the Katawba Valley Land Trust Thursday, April 24  
The Katawba Valley Land Trust (KVLT) invites you to its annual “Toast to the Trees” on Thursday, April 24, from 5:30 to 7:30 pm at the Ivy Place Event Center, located at 8603 Van Wyck Rd, Lancaster. Our speaker for the evening is Naturalist Austin Jenkins. There is no charge to attend but your support allows for more protection of green space, open lands and our water and wildlife having a lasting impact in our communities.
 
The “Toast to the Trees” celebration recognizes the value of conserving green space, open land, and our natural and cultural resources by toasting the trees for all they do for us and the environment.  The Katawba Valley Land Trust works with landowners and other organizations to safeguard these important factors of our environment.
 
Andrew Lazenby, President of the Katawba Valley Land Trust, says “KVLT relies on its membership and donors for funding. We are so grateful to our contributors who make the work of the land trust possible.”
 
“KVLT could not fulfill its mission without its membership and corporate sponsors. We depend on contributions to carry out land protection, support our staff and operate. You can have a lasting impact conserving our precious resources,” said Executive Director Dr. Michelle Evans.
 
The speaker, Austin Jenkins, is a lifelong naturalist and a native of Camden, SC. He received his undergraduate degree in biology at The Citadel and holds graduate degrees from Clemson University. He is an instructor for the popular SC Master Naturalist Program through Clemson Extension and the SC Wildlife Federation, of which he is a former chair and emeritus board member.   Jenkins was the first executive director of the Katawba Valley Land Trust.  Jenkins teaches at USC Sumter, where his courses include The Natural History of South Carolina and Environmental Biology.
 
Evans said “KVLT thanks The Ivy Place for its generosity in hosting Toast To The Trees. This is an appropriate place to have our fundraiser. KVLT ‘toasts’ families like this one, which placed an easement on 701 acres of its property, including nearly 8,500 linear feet along the Catawba River so that it will be protected forever. The Ivy Place is an amazing event venue and farm with over 170 years of history. Lancaster County and surrounding areas have experienced population growth, propelling landowners to reach out to us for help to ensure their land stays in agricultural production, or as green as it was when they purchased it. We also preserve historic sites.”
 
 “The Katawba Valley Land Trust was founded by Lindsay Pettus in 1992 with a vision to create an organization to protect land in the Catawba River basin. His long record of public service means there are many people who knew and loved him, and we continue to honor his commitment with a fund-raiser to assure we can continue this important work,” said Evans.
 
According to Evans, KVLT has protected nearly 14,000 acres in Lancaster, Chester, Kershaw and surrounding counties. Its mission is to protect the natural resources, cultural resources, open lands, waters, and vistas of aesthetic value in the Catawba River Valley and surrounding areas.
 
For more information, email Executive Director, Dr. Michelle Evans, mevans@kvlt.org.