FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:JUNE 29, 2010 FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT:BOB ROTATORI or PAULETTE WELCH216-635-3200, EXT. 3263 or EXT. 3205 Cleveland Metroparks Executive Director-Secretary Brian M.Zimmerman recently announced at the June 17 Board of ParkCommissioners meeting that the Park District received
$1.7 million from the estate of Dorothea Jean Hassler. The giftis designated for the "preservation and beautification"of Rocky River Reservation and Big Met Golf Course. Hassler's gift represents the largest contribution ever from anindividual donor in the 93-year history of ClevelandMetroparks. A lifelong resident of the Cleveland area, Hassler enjoyed walkingtrails throughout Rocky River Reservation, as well as golfing atBig Met Golf Course. Her gift was placed in the Emerald NecklaceEndowment Fund and will generate future revenue for Big Met GolfCourse and Rocky River Reservation. "This donation is a transformational gift for the endowmentfund and a testimony to the role Cleveland Metroparks played in Ms.Hassler's life, as well as the importance of accessible green spacein northeast Ohio," said Zimmerman. Cleveland Metroparks established the Emerald Necklace EndowmentFund within the Cleveland Foundation in 2001 to preserve andprotect the Park District for years to come. Donations to theEmerald Necklace Endowment Fun remain in the fund and generateincome to benefit all aspects of Cleveland Metroparks. "Knowing people like Ms. Hassler are aware of the EmeraldNecklace Endowment Fund is truly inspiring," noted KarenKannenberg, CFRE, manager of gift and donor development. Approximately $4.8 million has been committed to the EmeraldNecklace Endowment Fund through a combination of cash contributionsand planned gifts. The goal of Cleveland Metroparks is tosignificantly grow the Endowment Fund looking towards the 100thanniversary of the Park District in 2017. For more information on making a gift to Cleveland Metroparks,contact Kannenberg at 216-635-3217 orkjk@clevelandmetroparks.com.
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