 Outer Island Endowment Fund
The Connecticut State University System, the Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection, The Community Foundation for Greater New Haven and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service have an agreement to provide environmental programs on Outer Island in Long Island Sound.
The agreement allows for the creation of an endowment to ensure the protection of Outer Island's natural resources, while providing for continued public access to the island for educational and research initiatives. "The DEP is pleased to provide this endowment to support environmental education, habitat restoration, research and improved public access in Connecticut," said DEP Commissioner Arthur J. Rocque, Jr. "This grant, the largest single grant awarded by the Long Island Sound Fund, has helped to create a dynamic partnership which will ensure the preservation of Outer Island while providing for Long Island Sound research initiatives."
"It is wonderful for me to know that Outer Island will be maintained in its natural state for generations to come," said Elizabeth Hird, who donated the Outer Island to the USFWS. Outer Island, the outermost of the Thimble Islands located off the coast of Branford, was donated to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service by Hird in 1995. Since that time, the 5-acre island, now a part of the Steward B. McKinney National Wildlife Refuge (NWR), became an outdoor classroom for CSUS.
In an effort to protect the island's natural resources and ensure the long-term viability of the educational and research initiatives, The Community Foundation for Greater New Haven created the Outer Island Education and Research Fund. Beginning with 31 donors who contributed to the fund, work continues with McKinney NWR, CSUS, the Branford Land Trust, the Thimble Island Association, area public schools and Hird to ensure the island remains in its natural condition.
Also, a partnership between the McKinney National Wildlife Refuge and CSUS, through the Connecticut State University System Foundation, was established to provide access for educational and research programs using the island. The CSUS Center for Education and Research and at Outer Island (CEROI) coordinates these activities.
In support of these efforts, the DEP has awarded The Community Foundation a Long Island Sound License Plate grant of $250,000. The license plate grant and matching funds will support instructional, research and public outreach programming regarding Outer Island and programs oriented to the environmental study of Long Island Sound. CSUS will be responsible for organizing instructional, research and outreach programs about Outer Island for its own students, as well as for elementary and secondary schools, other universities, environmental organizations and agencies, and other interested groups.
The DEP Long Island Sound Fund, created in 1992, has raised more than $3.8 million for projects benefiting the Sound through the sale of more than 111,000 Preserve the Sound license plates, private and corporate donations and from the People's Bank Preserve the Sound affinity credit card. The Long Island Sound Fund supports projects in the areas of education, public access to the shoreline, habitat restoration, and research. To purchase a Preserve the Sound license plate, call 1-800-CT-Sound. |
