Growth of Greenway Fundraising Events

Since the inception of The Green Gala in 2016, the Anne Springs Close Greenway has begun to rely on its fundraising events as a critical part of ongoing annual support. Over the last few years two additional fundraising events, The Taste of Fort Mill and The Boil & Brew, have been added. These events are largely supported by affinity groups, the Greenway Ladies Guild and the Colonel’s Club, and raised more than $246k to support the Greenway’s mission in 2022. Collectively they represent hundreds of volunteer hours donated and more than 2,250 tickets sold. In 2022, a new charity golf tournament was also established to benefit the Anne Springs Close Bridge Program and raised an additional $15,000 in support of efforts to bring more children to nature through field trips and education outreach.

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National Philanthropy Day

The legacy of Anne Springs Close was recently honored on National Philanthropy Day (Nov. 10)by the Charlotte Association of Fundraising Professionals with the Outstanding Legacy Award. Greenway leadership and members of the Close family were honored to accept the award in her memory.

Conservation and Land Management

Our region, the southeastern Piedmont, has become one of the fastest-growing populations in the country. Historically, much of the Piedmont was covered by prairies of native grasses and flowers, maintained by regular fire and animals like elk and bison, and supported by large numbers of flowering plants, pollinators, and wildlife like the bobwhite quail. After decades of fire suppression and rapid population growth, most of the Piedmont has been converted to agriculture, housing, or has grown into dense mixed forests.

Over the last several years, Anne Springs Close Greenway resources staff have worked to preserve Piedmont remnants for future generations to experience. This year, preservation efforts continued with the cultivation of nearly 25 acres of grassland and other areas back to native Piedmont prairie,