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NEWSLETTER: March 2014

In this issue:

• Super Guadalupe Run Recap
• Window on the River Park
• Adopt a Rose
• Donor Walkway
• Rails-to-Trails Grant
• River Clean Ups
• Volunteer Corner
• Legacy Giving

Super Guadalupe Run Recap

Over 500 hearty souls took part in our first February Super Guadalupe River 10K/5K/1K Run.  Not only did walkers and runners earn their guacamole on the Guadalupe, they helped break the drought!  Mark your calendars for next year's run -- Sunday, February 1st. Photos can be found here and results here.

Save the Date - Window on the River Park

Our annual Window on the River Park reception will be held Thursday, June 5th and, for the third consecutive year, is being hosted by Adobe Systems, Inc.  This event is the culmination of our annual fundraising campaign and is our largest source of unrestricted funds.  Many thanks to early sponsors Adobe, Terry & Carol Austen, Berger Lewis Accountancy Corp., Boston Properties, Focus Business Bank,  Petrinovich Pugh and Co., S and S Flooring, Brandon Steene, Swinerton Builders, Tibbets & Lewis, and ValleyCrest.  Invitations will be mailed in early April. Click here for more info.

Adopt a Rose

Many thanks to Shurra's for the donated chocolate, Citti's Florist for the rose-a-month premium, and Catered Too! for the delicious cookie -- these generous local businesses helped make Valentine's Day our most successful yet!  We'll offer the gift box again for Mother's Day, May 11th -- get your orders in soon.

Donor Walkway

A paver or bench plaque in the Donor Walkway at Arena Green makes a lasting gift to honor or remember someone special in your family, business, or social circle. This enduring tribute is also a great, tax-deductible way to support park development. Click here for more info.

Rails-to-Trails Grant

We are pleased to announce that we are a recipient of funding through Rails-to-Trails Conservancy's partnership with Coca-Cola North America. The $3,800 grant will be used to purchase tools, refreshments, and shirts for volunteers participating in trail maintenance and a soon-to-launch trail ambassador program. This is the catalyst we've needed to get our trail ambassador program up and running. Please contact Jessica if you are interested in participating.

River Clean Ups

In February we hosted 4 river clean ups; a big thanks to California San Jose Mission, San Jose State's Alpha Phi Omega, IBI Group, and Boy Scouts' Wolf troop 399. All together, these groups collected 49 bags of trash pulling an estimated 1,225 pounds of trash from the river; that's almost the average weight of a horse! We offer both private and public river clean up dates. River clean-ups not only help keep our river and bay clean but they also function as a great team build opportunity for groups and the community. Our next public river clean-up is scheduled for Saturday, April 19th from 8:30- 11:30 AM. RSVP is required and you can find the sign-up sheet here.

Volunteer Corner
A hearty thanks to all the volunteer groups that toiled to make GRPG a more beautiful place this past December:

Alpha Phi Omega
Americorps
California San Jose Mission
De Anza College International Student Volunteers
Evergreen Valley High School
Hands on Bay Area
Master Gardeners of SCC
Homestead High School National Honor Society
IBI Group
iHeart Independence High School
Irvington Change Project
Mission Bay
Morgan Autism Center
National Charity League
Oak Grove High School AFJROTC
Oak Grove High School Interact Club
One Brick

And that is only the groups! We also appreciate the scores of individuals who come out weekly to make a difference.

Meet Volunteer Michael Viramontes
Michael joined us in the fall after hearing about our internship opportunities. As a trail user and 4th year environmental studies student at San Jose State, Michael found the Conservancy to be a perfect match; he strives to work at an organization just like GRPC after graduation. Michael has been an asset to the education team, and with his positive can-do attitude has expanded his role. Among other tasks, he is currently working to develop our Flora & Fauna webpage, which will launch soon. He is a great addition to our internship program, and we are looking forward to his continued success. Thank you Michael!

Legacy Giving

Why Should You Include a Charitable Gift in Your Will (Or Living Trust)?

1. It’s simple to do. It can be as easy as including language stating, "I give $20,000 to Guadalupe River Park Conservancy."
2. You can change your mind. We won’t receive the gift until after your death. During your lifetime, you can amend anything you choose, i.e., beneficiaries, amounts, etc.
3. Tax-wise, it could be beneficial. Gifts to qualified charitable organizations reduce the value of your estate for estate tax purposes.
4. It’s an easy way to support Guadalupe River Park Conservancy, and we’d be grateful for your gift. Bequests of every size build our future financial strength.