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2019 Benefit + Auction: Meet the Honorees
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Since 1920, the Trail Conference has been partnering with land managers and mobilizing volunteers and advocates to protect the trails and natural areas that belong to us all.
Meet the organizations that will be celebrated at our Annual Benefit + Auction as leaders who are assisting the Trail Conference in building the next generation of trail stewards.
Public Partner of the Year: Teatown Lake Reservation
Teatown Lake Reservation is a nonprofit nature preserve and environmental education center in the Lower Hudson Valley, with 15 miles of hiking trails, a two-acre island refuge for over 230 species of native wildflowers, year-round programming, wildlife exhibits, and natural science day camps in the summer and school breaks. At 1,000 acres, Teatown is the largest independent, community-supported preserve in Westchester County.Teatown has been a key partner with the Trail Conference as we have strengthened our ability to connect people with nature east of the Hudson River. Starting in 2008, we collaborated to hire the first dedicated Trail Conference staff person focused on strengthening our ability to make a positive impact in that region. Together we have worked to keep the trails at Teatown safe and enjoyable for all visitors, serving as a model for other land trusts and preservations.
Perhaps of even greater importance is the work Teatown is doing in engaging its community to appreciate the value and need for stewards to protect our natural areas. Your efforts to conserve the region’s biodiversity while creating an environment for exceptional science and stewardship opportunities are truly unique. Your education program is creating the next generation of stewards who will care for the natural areas the public needs for a healthy and sustainable life. Your long-standing role as an active member and participant in the Lower Hudson PRISM distinguishes your commitment to protecting biodiversity.
"We are incredibly humbled to be honored by the Trail Conference. Access to nature and open space has been at the heart of Teatown's work for the last 50 years, and the Trail Conference has been a key partner in assuring that our region's natural areas remain accessible in a sustainable way. We are proud to continue our partnership, and we look forward ushering in the next generation of environmental stewards, side by side."
-Kevin Carter, Executive Director
Corporate Partner of the Year: Inserra ShopRite Supermarkets, Inc.
Inserra Supermarkets is a family-owned and operated company which services 25 ShopRite stores across New Jersey and New York. The family ownership business model of families serving families is a ShopRite tradition which enables them to meet the needs of the neighborhoods they serve with products, services and charitable support. Over the last 30 years, this commitment to giving back locally has resulted in the family donating millions of dollars impacting and improving the quality of life to those living in the region.
Since 2013, Inserra has provided special services to the Trail Conference and has been named our Corporate Partner of the Year. Inserra’s support allowed for the Trail Conference to become a visible presence in the Bergen County community and elevate our brand with direct support to the Darlington Schoolhouse project, which we’ve made our permanent Headquarters in 2015. Inserra’s commitment to the local community it serves is extraordinary. The continual support and collaboration allows us to better serve the outdoor community and positively impact the support we are able to provide our volunteers.