A n n u al R ep or t 2014 & 2 015
Elements of Progress
Restori ng our Waters hed, Renewi ng our Commu nities.
Making our wat one c
TTF is dedicated to improving the health and vitality of our
watershed by engaging our communities in education, stewardship, restoration and advocacy.
Water is a critical element to the health of our communities, and a healthy watershed helps keep it pure and clean. For 16 years, TTF has worked to improve our watershed by partnering with our communities to encourage restoration, ongoing respect and care for our local waterways. At TTF, we know that the best way to improve the quality of our water is to help individuals and decision makers understand the way everyday activities impact our creeks, streams and rivers.
tershed better community at a time. Through our programs, residents, civic organizations, neighborhoods, schools and others upstream and downstream have cleaned up parks. Planted trees. Restored plants and animals that are vital to watershed health. And they’ve even begun to change habits such as how they sweep their streets and dispose of litter. Our efforts are paying off, with the creation of new natural areas next to streams and wetlands, and comprehensive educational programs that successfully educate the public about the importance of our water. From Abington to Juniata Park, West Oak Lane to Frankford and everywhere in between, TTF has become a trusted partner in restoring our watershed and renewing our communities.
Watershed Moments 2014 - 2016 Encouraging community involvement All of TTF’s programs are designed to involve community residents, businesses and advocates, partnering with a variety of organizations to increase awareness of the watershed and its importance to the region.
Examples of community engagement from 2014 to 2016 include:
What is a
watershed?
TCP Keepers This new official friends group, formed in 2016, is made up of residents committed to connecting their community with the 300-acre Tacony Creek Park. TCP Keepers represented Tacony Creek Park at their first Stewardship meeting in May 2016. Trails Through Time History Tours Hosted for the first time in 2015, this series included a Wingohocking Creek bus tour
It’s a defined area where rain falls, drains into local streams, and eventually flows into a common outlet such as a river or bay.
engaging over 70 participants. The TTF: Trails Through Time Vimeo has been posted on our website and is used to promote the fascinating story of the development of our waterways. Summer Block Parties June, 2016 saw the fourth year of this successful program, focused on engaging new neighbors and strengthening relationships at the Gateways at Tabor Road and Olney Avenue, as well as at Whitaker Avenue. Attendance at both block parties totaled 500 participants, marking a 44% increase over the previous summer.
Rain Barrels Through our workshops and sales, community residents bought and installed 180 rain barrels, which will slow runoff of over 500,0000 gallons of water each year.
Tacony Creek Park Nature’s Hidden Surprises One weekday morning every month, an environmental educator takes visitors through the park to uncover unusual and interesting aspects of nature. Trail Ambassadors This program provides a regular, positive presence in Tacony Creek Park. Fellows from the PowerCorps PHL environmental workforce development program engage park users, provide resources, and monitor activity to improve park stewardship. Maple Sugaring Festival This new annual event was held in March in 2015 and 2016, attracting over 100 people of all ages who learned about how sap becomes syrup with a delicious taste!
stream restoration and green stormwater management
Rails-to-Trails Conservancy Has worked with us to survey trail
strategies and projects a reality. Our Municipal Task Force has
users, install three Trail Counters and provide Pop-Up Bike Clinics
been established to support this effort.
at our annual Block Parties.
Streamkeepers Each month, our team of committed “citizen
Protecting our drinking water Improving Upstream Creek Health in partnership with the Delaware River Watershed Initiative Our watershed is part of the Delaware River, the source of drinking water for New York City and Philadelphia. Through
scientists” gathers valuable data. The eyes and ears of the creek, they monitor 21 miles of streams in the upstream part of our watershed. Working with our suburban Philadelphia partners, these volunteers implement water quality monitoring efforts at 24 sites. They are supported by the Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel University, and Temple and Villanova universities.
participation in the Delaware River Watershed Initiative, funded
Creekside plantings Hundreds of native trees were planted by
by the William Penn Foundation, we are bringing resources and
students and community members along Jenkintown Creek at
expertise to upstream communities and landowners to make
Abington Friends School, Manor College & Ethel Jordan Park. Rain gardens TTF created two rain gardens to improve management of polluted runoff into Jenkintown Creek. • At Abington Friends School, the new rain garden now captures and manages the runoff from the 0.35 acre parking lot before it discharges into the creek. • At Manor College, a 2,000 square foot rain garden manages runoff using native plants, which are tolerant of both drought and flooding.
128 species of birds identified in in Tacony Tacony Creek Creek Park. Park. identified
Growing Partnerships: A Key to Continued Success Our key to growth is our strong partnerships, that range from our member municipalities to school districts, institutions and other environmental organizations committed to keeping our watershed healthy. Partnerships Abington Friends School Audubon PA & Wyncote Audubon Society Manor College PowerCorps PHL Rails to Trails Conservancy Saint Basil Academy
Providing a wealth of information
Sisters of the Order of Saint Basil the Great Partner Alliance In 2015, we launched this group of businesses
TTF continually involves the community by providing
and institutions to provide a mechanism for these friends to both
interesting materials and tools that encourage us all to care for
support our work and promote their goals.
our environment.
Educational Centers Network Through this William Penn
The Bird Guide Updated in 2016 in cooperation with the
Foundation initiative, TTF will access the expertise of
Philadelphia Water Department, Audubon PA and Wyncote Audubon
environmental education centers across the Delaware River Basin
Society and the William Penn Foundation, suggests ways each
and develop joint programs, professional development
of us can help to ensure a healthier habitat — critical to the life
opportunities, and marketing efforts.
cycles of the many bird species outlined in the booklet. The Tacony Creek Park & Trail Map Demonstrates the ways everyone can enjoy nature to its fullest — right in the middle of our urban environment. More than 3.2 miles of trails along the regional Circuit are available for walking, bicycling and exploring nature. The Watershed Report Card This report provides a comprehensive overview of goals and strategies since TTF was founded in 2001. It describes the need for community-wide efforts to improve the health of our watershed, and proposes goals and strategies going forward.
Recognizing our Watershed Heroes
Watershed Milestones Award Ceremony & Reception
Celebrated at our headquarters in the Globe Dye Works.
Recognizing 10 years of Watershed Growth
Recognizing our Watershed Heroes for the 5th Year
Honorees – May 13, 2015
Honorees – May 25, 2016
Friend of the TTF Watershed
Friend of the TTF Watershed
The School District of Cheltenham Township
Latinas In Motion
Olney Tree Tenders
Tom Manns
Anthony Smith
Streamkeepers: Judy Bishop, Roberta Brunner, Mary Felley,
TTF Watershed Educator Olney Christian School Rosanne Mistretta, Abington Friends School
TTF Watershed Municipal Leader Watershed Restoration Team, Philadelphia Water Department
TTF Watershed Youth Champion H2O for Life Club, Abington Senior High School & Green Thumbs Club, Abington Junior High School Abington School District
TTF Watershed Corporate Steward Infrastructure Solution Services
TTF Watershed Legacy Award Keith Russell, Audubon Pennsylvania
Karen Serfass, Maria Kiernan, Nick Macelko, Thomas McKeon, Callie Raymond, Geoffrey Selling, Jenn Sherwood
TTF Watershed Educator Judith Gratz Sookyung Chang, Science Teacher/Director, Saint Basil Academy Gloria Kenny, Science Department Chair, Saint Basil Academy
TTF Watershed Public Leader Drew Brown & Adam Levine, Philadelphia Water Department
TTF Watershed Youth Champion STEM Challenge Club, Mariana Bracetti Academy Charter School
TTF Watershed Nonprofit Steward Abington Friends School Solid Rock United Methodist Church
TTF Watershed Corporate Steward Wawa
TTF Watershed Legacy Award Fred Maurer, Friends of Tacony Creek Park Wyncote Audubon Society
Donors & Partners Individuals Alon Abramson Leigh & Carol Altadonna Dorothy Baumgarten Gary & Donna Berkowitz Judith Bishop Eileen Brill Bernard Brown John Chalikian Sookyung Chang Michael Cloud & Laura Craig Paula Segal Cohen Michael Connor Richard Conroy Ralph Cook Eileen Cooper Herbert Cooper Joanne Dahme Mary Grace DiGirolamo Vincent DiGirolamo Lisa Donahue Michael Drake Robert Dromboski & Laura Frank Margaret Dunn Robin Eisman Janet Everly William Ewing Jenifer Eyre Mary Felley Molly Finch Kelly Gaskins Said Gharrafi & Karen Shaffran Gabrielle Giddings Lisette Goya William & Mary Hangley Marc & Susan Harris Jim & Bonita Hay Councilman Bobby Henon Stephen & Erica Heverin Emma Hickey Carolyn Hirsh Barbara Hughes Morgan Hurm Milta Irizarry Nathaniel Johnson Gerald Kaufman & Shelly Yanoff Gregory Lech
Businesses Carrie Lohrmann Stephen Maakestad Thomas Maduzia Carole Maher David Major & Evelyn Esken Representative Stephen & Deborah McCarter William McPhillips Terrence Milstead Steve Miano & Rosanne Mistretta Melissa Muroff Benjamin & Susan Myerov Anthony & Kathleen Naccarato Kimberly Oxholm Linda Pascale Anna Post Theresa Profit Councilwoman Maria Quiñones-Sanchez Scott Richelson Sandra Robinson Murray & Lorna Rosenberg Salvatore Rotella, Jr. & Maria Kiernan Anna Oluffa Sappington Jeff & Mary Satterthwaite Ruth Seeley Geoffrey & Cecily Selling Commissioners Josh Shapiro and Val Arkoosh Andrew Sharp Meg Sheketoff Elissa Siegel Jeffrey Schultz Shirley Spirk Linda Stern & Amy Steffen Jason & Caitlin Stevens Rita Stevens Phyllis Stickney Marian Sumner Robert Thomas John Walber & Julie Slavet Kimberly Washington Sheldon & Betsy Wolf Lisa Wool David & Patricia Workman Beth Yount Alex Zorach Jonathan & Cecile Zorach
A.D. Marble Advancement Company, LLC AKRF, Inc. Amazon Smile American Natives Nursery Anita’s Guacamole Aquareale Archewild Astra Zeneca Birchtree Catering Bryner Chevrolet Cake Life Bake Shop Calvan Environmental Campbell Thomas & Co. Cardone Industries Cedar Run Landscapes Cerulean, LLC Cheltenham Printing Company Chick-fil-A Rachel Citrino Collins Nursery Creekside Coop Curds & Whey Café & Gourmet Shop David Brothers Landscape Services Domenick & Associates Earth Bread + Brewery Ernst Seeds Fiddlehead Toys Fill A Bagel & Breads Fine Garden Creations Firestone & Company LLC Franklin Square Capital Partners Globe Dye Works Guild Hall Brewing Company Hangley Aronchik Segal Pudlin & Schiller Helen’s Pure Foods Heritage Business Systems, Inc. Infrastructure Solution Services Jomar Just Born Kevin Gallagher Consulting LLC Kind Land Stewards Lindy Communities Meliora Design Michael Baker International
Government Meltkraft MilkCrate NAM Planning & Design, LLC NativeScapes North Creek Nurseries O’Brien & Gere Octoraro Native Plant Nursery The PA Carbon Reduction Fund, supported by WGL Energy Services and Sterling Planet and managed by the Pennsylvania Environmental Council PECO, an Exelon Company Pennoni Philadelphia Brewing Company Philadelphia Distilling Company Philadelphia Federal Credit Union Philadelphia Insurance Companies Portfolio Associates, Inc. Primex Garden Center The RBA Group Renew Theaters Roofmeadow Ruppert Landscape Shearon Environmental Design Simple Cycle TD Bank Total Benefits Solutions Inc. Valley Shepard Creamery W.B. Mason Weavers Way Weeds, Inc. Whole Foods Market
Organizations Abington Friends School Abington Rotary Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel University American Rivers Audubon Pennsylvania Briar Bush Nature Center Environment America Fairmount Park Conservancy Fairmount Water Works Friends of High School Park Friends of the Wissahickon
Friends of Vernon Park Friends Hospital GreenTreks Network Inliquid Art & Design I.U.P.A.T. District Council 21 Juniata Action Committee League of Women Voters of Pennsylvania Mitchell Lodge #296 Partnership for the Delaware Estuary Pennypack Ecological Restoration Trust Penn Master of Science in Applied Geosciences Penn Master of Environmental Studies Pennsylvania Environmental Council Pennsylvania Horticultural Society PowerCorpsPHL Rails-to-Trails Conservancy Rydal Park Continuing Care Retirement Community Sisters of the Order of Saint Basil the Great Sustainable Business Network/GSI Partners Temple University Center for Sustainable Communities Villanova University College of Engineering, Urban Stormwater Partnership Wissahickon Valley Watershed Association Wyncote Audubon Society
Abington Township Abington School District Cheltenham Township Cheltenham School District Jenkintown Borough Montgomery County Conservation District Philadelphia Parks & Recreation Philadelphia Streets Department Philadelphia Water Department Rockledge Borough Springfield Township
Foundations Claneil Foundation Comcast Foundation Cora Brooks Foundation Dow Chemical Foundation National Fish and Wildlife Foundation TD Charitable Foundation Thomas Scattergood Foundation William Penn Foundation
Revenue & Spending Revenue 2014 – 2015 7/1/14 – 7/1/15
Revenue 2015 – 2016 7/1/15 – 7/1/16
Contributions
$31,963
Contributions
$282,932
Grants
$212,047
Grants
$306,937
Municipal Dues
$83,000
Municipal Dues
Program Fees
$222,000
Program Fees
In-kind Contributions
$8,125
In-kind Contributions
Investment Return
$25
Investment Return
Other
$2,177
Other
Total
$559,337
$83,000 $243,006 $6,061 $798 $16,116
Total
$938,850
Expenses 2014 – 2015 7/1/14 – 7/1/15
Expenses 2015 – 2016 7/1/15 – 7/1/16
Program
$495,137
Program
$593,017
Administrative
$114,092
Administrative
$84,595
$15,060
Fundraising
Fundraising
$17,221
Expenses 2014 – 2016 $938,850
Revenue 2014 – 2016 $1,000,000
CONTRIBUTIONS
$1,000,000
PROGRAM
GRANTS
ADMINISTRATIVE
MUNICIPAL DUES
FUNDRAISING
PROGRAM FEES
$559,337
$750,000 $593,017
OTHER – INCLUDES IN-KIND CONTRIBUTIONS & INVESTMENT RETURN
$750,000
$500,000
$243,006
$17,221
$84,595
$22,975
0
$15,060
$250,000 $114,092
$306,937 $83,000
$222,000 $10,327
$212,047 $83,000
$31,963
$250,000
$282,932
$500,000
$495,137
TOTAL REVENUE
0
2014 – 2015
2015 – 2016
2014 – 2015
2015 – 2016
Board of Directors OFFICERS 2014 - 2015
BOARD 2014 - 2016
Susan Myerov, President, Abington Township Environmental
Michael Connor, PE, LEED AP BD + C, The RBA Group
Carolyn Hirsh, Lindy Property Management
Advisory Council & Pennsylvania Environmental Council
Joanne Dahme, Vice President, Philadelphia
Nate Johnson, Roofmeadow Services, Inc.
Rosanne Mistretta, Abington Friends School
Philadelphia Water Department
Bryan T. Havir, P.P., AICP, Vice President, Montgomery County
Cheltenham Township
Laurie Harvey, Treasurer, Maillie LLP
Susan Myerov, Abington Township Environmental Advisory
Council & Pennsylvania Environmental Council
Rodman Ritchie, P.E., PP, AKRF, Inc. Rev. Derick Scudder, Juniata Action Committee
OFFICERS 2015 - 2016
Robert Thomas, AIA, Campbell Thomas & Co. &
Rodman Ritchie, P.E., PP, President, AKRF, Inc.
Philadelphia Parks Alliance
Joanne Dahme, Vice President, Philadelphia
Philadelphia Water Department
Bryan T. Havir, P.P., AICP, Vice President, Montgomery County
Cheltenham Township
Laurie Harvey, Treasurer, Maillie LLP Tariq S. Parvez, Secretary, TD Bank
BOARD of Advisors 2014-2016 Robin Abell, Consultant Glen Abrams, Pennsylvania Horticultural Society Joan Blaustein, Philadelphia Parks & Recreation Susan Harris, Cerulean, LLC Gerald Kaufman Larissa Klevan, Philadelphia City Planning Commission Michael Leff, Federal Urban Waters Partnership,
The Davey Institute/USDA Forest Service
Fred Lewis, Senior Environment Corps Emma Melvin, Pennsylvania Horticultural Society Beth Pilling, Montgomery County Planning Commission Rev. Derick Scudder, Juniata Action Committee Patrick Starr, Pennsylvania Environmental Council Michael Stokes, Montgomery County Planning Commission Sarah Wu, Mayor’s Office of Sustainability
4500 Worth Street | Philadelphia, PA 19124 ph 215.744.1853 web www.ttfwatershed.org twitter @ttfwatershed
Design: Felice Croul Associates