Thanks to the generosity of many, many SCLA families, the SCLA Preserve and Protect campaign has achieved the $1.2M goal. Inspired by an anonymous $100k matching gift announced in September 2022, lake friends joined together to donate over $150,000 in just four short months — more than enough to release the $100k match and to achieve the campaign goal of $800,000 in endowment and $400,000 emergency reserve funding. Thank you to the generous family who donated the $100,000 match; your leadership and energy nurtured the spirit of philanthropy that made this possible.
This achievement provides SCLA reliable funds to support its mission long term AND readily available funds in case of emergency needs. SCLA is also poised to learn and invest in best practices to protect and steward our water quality and retain the magnificent Spider Lake ecosystem.
In 2014 the SCLA board under the leadership of President Michael O'Sullivan, launched the $1.2M campaign to create an endowment and emergency reserve. Key architects of the campaign plan included O'Sullivan and board members Robert Lebby, Patrick Delaney and Steve Smith. We are grateful to these leaders and their fellow board members for their vision and hard work to develop a sustainable financial vehicle to protect the Spider Chain of Lakes for future generations. We are also grateful for you, SCLA members, who increased your support of SCLA by adding annual gifts in the form of fish tier donations that are allocated to current expenses. We simply could not have done it without you. Your ongoing spirit of philanthropy to support our mission is a wonderful legacy that is critical to our ongoing ability to protect these lakes.
Last year, fish tier donations funded nearly 50% of SCLA expenses. It remains an important source of funding SCLA mission activities such as boat monitors at public landings. Please continue to support SCLA in the future by being a fish!
For more information about the endowment and emergency reserve see the Endowment and Emergency Reserve section on this website.
