On Friday, May 20th, over 450 Bay lovers gathered for the Treasure the Chesapeake Celebration at the Annapolis Waterfront Hotel. Despite the very rainy month, the rain held off for the event and it was a beautiful evening by the Bay! Kelly Swartout, the Trust’s new Director of Development, was amazed by the support the Trust received: “We had a wonderful turnout for the celebration. Mother Nature was certainly on our side and brought us a beautiful day! It was great to see everyone enjoying themselves and supporting the Bay.”
For the past 18 years, the goal of the Treasure the Chesapeake Celebration is to raise money for Chesapeake Bay Trust’s restoration, outreach, and environmental education efforts, and this year’s benefit grossed $93,000! The money raised will go directly to Chesapeake Bay Trust’s grant programs.
This year, the event was also an opportunity to thank the many Bay plate owners in Maryland. The Trust receives the revenue from the Bay plate and uses the money to fund grant projects. If you don’t have a Bay plate, it only takes a few minutes to make a difference in the health of the Bay. “Buying a Bay plate is a great way to help support Bay restoration and outreach. For just $20, you can get a Treasure the Chesapeake license plate and know that Chesapeake Bay Trust will be a responsible steward of your donation. 92 cents of every dollar goes right back to the grant programs that the Trust oversees,” explains Jana Davis, Executive Director of the Trust. Click here to buy yours online today and it will get sent right to your home!
The Chesapeake Bay Trust’s mission is to promote public awareness and public participation in the protection and restoration of the Chesapeake Bay and its rivers and streams. The Trust is a non-profit organization that receives funding from individual and corporate donors, the Maryland tax check off program, and the Bay plate.
To learn more about the Trust’s grant programs, click here.
