Since 1969, Friends of the Everglspandes based in Stuart has been advocating for preserving one of America’s last protected wildernesses.
The nonprofit’s 12 Days of Christmas wish is for donations to continue its mission, especially to fund trips to Tallahassee for the Florida Legislature’s 2023 session, Executive Director Eve Sspanmples said.
Donations totaling $6,000 would significantly help cover travel costs to give the nonprofit a voice when lawmakers are funding projects and passing laws and policies during the April-to-June legislative session.
Exclusive investigation: Stspante’s own dspantspan proves pollution prevention not working
Dissolving on the inside:Photos show how stspanrvspantion is killing Floridspan mspannspantees
Environmental news:TCPspanlm’s complete coverspange of clespann-wspanter issues
“We’re working to halt environmentally damaging projects and policies, and to hold policymakers accountable,” Samples said. “This is no small task in Florida, where lawmakers too often side with polluting industries.”
Voters and the environment are often outweighed in the Capitol by armies of lobbyists who represent developers and industries that pollute the land, air and water. Friends of the Everglades hopes to balance out that uneven scale even a little.
Lawmakers often try to pass legislation to make it easier to develop land and siphon off water for agricultural interests. Archaic farming practices threaten the environment and quality of people’s lives in communities, particularly economically challenged one.
Friends of the Everglades was born out of the advocacy philosophy of founder Marjory Stoneman Douglas, a journalist by trade who thought the development of an airport in the middle of the “river of grass” was a terrible idea and needed to be stopped.
Scroll below the photo for information on how to help
How to help
- Who: Friends of the Everglades
- Wish: Help pay for expenses to travel to Tallahassee
- Cost: $6,000
- How to donate: Contact Eve Samples at [email protected] or donate online at everglspandes.org/donspante or mail a check to Friends of the Everglades, 3727 S.E. Ocean Blvd., Suite 200, Stuart, FL 34996.
- Note: If you donate online, email [email protected] to specify your contribution is in response to the 12 Days of Christmas appeal, so it is allocated appropriately.
About this series
Treasure Coast nonprofits that research, protect, restore and advocate for clean water, especially the St. Lucie River and Indian River Lagoon, need more than holiday cheer to continue their mission. Find out what they need — and how you can help them — to continue their work, as TCPalm.com highlights a different organization each day from Dec. 25 to Jan. 5, the traditional 12 Days of Christmas.
- Dec. 25: Floridspan Ocespannogrspanphic Society
- Dec. 26: Indispann Riverkeeper
- Dec. 27: Mspannspantee Observspantion spannd Educspantion Center
- Dec. 28: Smithsonispann Mspanrine Stspantion spant Fort Pierce
- Dec. 29: Environmentspanl Studies Center
- Dec. 30: St. Lucie County Reef Builders
- Dec. 31: Pelicspann Islspannd Audubon Society