$51,000 Matching Gift Will Support Conservation
Conserving Carolina is announcing a matching gift of $51,000, which will double donations made between now and September 19, the date of our Conservation Celebration. The amount of $51,000 symbolizes the more than 51,000 acres Conserving Carolina has helped protect in WNC and Upstate SC. This matching gift offers you the opportunity to double your investment in a hopeful future.
Go here to donate to the matching gift! Your donation will be doubled. Note: if you don’t plan to attend Conservation Celebration, just scroll to the bottom to make your gift toward the match.
The community is also invited to attend Conservation Celebration, an inspiring evening of impact and possibility with the theme of “Planting Hope.” Conservation Celebration is a fundraiser taking place Saturday, September 19 at Blue Ridge Community College from 4:30 to 7:30.
This year’s celebration features a keynote address from Leigh Ann Henion, a New York Times bestselling author whose work explores wonder, connection, and the magic of the natural world. Henion is the author of Night Magic: Adventures Among Glow Worms, Moon Gardens, and Other Marvels of the Dark.
This year’s theme, Planting Hope, is both literal and metaphorical. It reflects the hands-on work of restoring native habitats by planting trees along streams, sowing wildflower meadows, and nurturing forests back to health. At the same time, it represents something deeper: investing in people, especially the next generation, who will carry forward a love of the natural world.
“Planting hope is what we do every day,” said Jenn Tutor, Development Director of Conserving Carolina. “It’s in every tree we plant, every acre we protect, and every young person we inspire to care about the land. We’re not just saving land. We’re growing a future where people and nature thrive together.”
The $51,000 matching gift celebrates one dollar for every acre protected—a milestone made possible by community support. This matching gift will benefit the Future Fund at Conserving Carolina and was made possible by Greg and Shannon McFayden.
“Becoming grandparents has deepened our desire to help preserve and protect open spaces. We want future generations to have the same access to forests, trails, and waterways that we have enjoyed during our lives,” Greg McFayden said.
He continued, “Growth and development are making this more difficult. That’s why it is even more important to support Conserving Carolina and its mission of ‘planting hope “We hope you consider making a generous gift to this year’s Matching Gift Challenge. With your help Conserving Carolina can add to the 51,000 acres already protected. Future generations deserve it.”
These gifts will help protect the places people love in Conserving Carolina’s region, which includes Henderson, Polk, Transylvania, Rutherford, and Buncombe Counties, as well as the Landrum, SC area.
Through the Future Fund, Conserving Carolina advances its three-part mission:
- Protect — Conserving land that will sustain communities for generations
- Restore — Replanting native species, rebuilding ecosystems, and healing landscapes
- Inspire — Connecting people with nature through field trips, volunteer days, and educational programs
Every gift made toward the matching gift between now and September 19, 2026, will be matched dollar-for-dollar, up to $51,000 doubling support for land protection, restoration, and community engagement.
Supporters can participate by:
- Donating online here.
- Mailing a check: 847 Case St., Hendersonville, NC 28792 (note “Matching Gift”)
- Calling: Jenn Ramsdell at (828) 697-5777 ext. 222
- Giving in person: At the Conservation Celebration event (requires purchasing a ticket to attend)