On Thursday, September 12, 2019, friends and family gathered at the Pavilion at Wellesley Island State Park to celebrate the establishment of the Kenneth Deedy Environmental Internship Fund. Attendees reminisced about Ken Deedy and his passion for the Thousand Islands region, and came together as a community in support of this exciting endeavor.
In honor of Ken, the Thousand Islands Land Trust, Save The River and Minna Anthony Common Nature Center have established the Kenneth Deedy Environmental Internship Fund. As a true endowment, this fund, inspired through his vision, will be used to hire a high school/college student for a summer long internship. Each year, the selected student will have a once-in-a-life opportunity to work for all three organizations, immersing them into the fields of land conservation and stewardship, environmental education, and environmental advocacy.
“The Kenneth Deedy Environmental Internship is an environmentally focused program like no other. We believe it will have a positive impact on our region and future environmental stewards of this place we all so deeply love” commented Terra Bach, TILT’s Director of Development and Communications.
Before his passing, Ken made the initial gift to establish the Kenneth Deedy Environmental Internship Fund and thanks to the generosity of many supporters and a $50,000 grant made by the Northern New York Community Foundation (NNYCF) nearly $158,500 has now been raised.
Ken was a great friend to many and a life-time supporter of environmental stewardship and education in the Thousand Islands region. It was his vision to create a position that would serve three environmental organizations in the Thousand Islands region. From the earliest days of the Thousand Islands Land Trust and Save The River’s activities, Ken thought that sharing resources would provide useful staffing help to the organizations as well as offer a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for a young person interested in a career in environmental science.
“Ken Deedy was certainly smiling down on our celebration Thursday night; watching his vision for these environmental organizations that he cared so much about come together for such a special common cause. We look forward to a bright future with Thousand Islands Land Trust and Save The River to help inspire the next generation of nature lover,” commented Matthew Elliott, Board President, Friends of the Nature Center, Inc.
“This new fund will create a collaboration of resources that will encourage, across the generations, an ongoing belief in the importance of thoughtful stewardship,” remarked Rande Richardson, Executive Director of the NNYCF.
If you would like to contribute, gifts may be made in Ken’s honor to the Thousand Islands Land Trust, Save The River, or Minna Anthony Common Nature Center and will be directed to the Fund which is held at the Northern New York Community Foundation.