Posted on December 19, 2013: www.therecord.com/community-story/4281363-companies-find-rare-an-attraction/
By Ray Martin
CAMBRIDGE – A growing number of companies are climbing on board with Cambridge’s rare Charitable Research Reserve.
“It’s been a combination of things,” said Patti Leather, rare’s director of development and community relations. “We’ve been in the community and the region for 12 years and we’ve worked really hard on building up rare’s profile. In the few years we have definitely seen an increase in our corporate donations.”
rare is a 900-plus-acre nature reserve situated at the confluence of the Grand and Speed rivers, which straddles lands in Cambridge and North Dumfries Township, south of Blair.
Larger than New York City’s Central Park, it is home to hundreds of species of flora and fauna, including more than 220 birds, and in excess of 500 plant species and trees – some of which are older than 240 years.
“The awareness of what rare is and what we are doing is coming,” Leather said. “With each fundraising campaign we get more people making donations. Some of those people are taking what they’ve learned about us back to their companies, and they too are realizing the importance of what we are doing.”
Recently, global investments company BNY Mellon Wealth Management, which operates in 35 countries, announced it is supporting rare with a matching grant of $10,000.
All donations received by rare before Dec. 31 will be matched by BNY Mellon Wealth Management and some of their investment managers.
“These are the dollars that help sustain rare in perpetuity,” said Leather. “While we are in the midst of a major campaign to pay for the land and restore and re-purpose heritage buildings on the property, build trails and such, we can’t forget what it costs to run the organization.
“We offer a lot to the community and it all requires the public’s help.”
Donations can be made securely online by visiting www.raresites.org/donate or calling 519-650-9336.
They have joined a growing number of other companies that are lending rare their support.
In September, MacPherson Builders announced it has made the rare Charitable Research Reserve its charity of choice, with the goal of raising funds to help support and protect this unique reserve.
Company president Russell Higgins said rare’s central location, which is easily accessible for the millions of people in southern Ontario, was another reason his company chose this cause as its charity of choice.
The Richmond Hill-based company plans to raise funds for rare by donating a portion of the sale of each home it builds. Currently, the builder has projects in Fergus, Seaforth, the Town of the Blue Mountains and Collingwood.
Leather said there are a growing number of companies looking at their corporate missions and want to give something back to the greater community.
“Langdon Hall has also been very good to us over the years,” Leather said. “ They have been a great corporate neighbour to us. Not only have they helped us out with every event we’ve held, they have introduced us to others in the community.
“We’ve also held guided hikes with them along our trails.”
Officials with KPMG in Waterloo have also assisted the organization by making introductions to others who might be interested in helping the reserve.
“Gateman-Malloy and Linamar have also been very good to us,” Leather said. “Gateman was hired to install North House for us, but they did a lot of other work and provides gifts-in-kind. Linamar donated $15,000.”
Last year, Toyota Motor Manufacturing Canada Inc. made a $50,000 donation to rare and has since had teams of volunteers roll up their sleeves to help out on projects.
The rare Charitable Research Reserve is currently attempting to raise $17 million to purchase land, refurbish its existing facilities and fund its ongoing educational programs.
“We’ve come a long ways raising $12.5 million, but we still have $4.5 million to go, and we can use all the help we can get,” Leather said.