Thanks to over 100 friends and neighbors, and an amazing anonymous matching gift, Brucemore absolutely smashed the fundraising goal for the Preservation Fund in August!
This effort was part of a celebration of five years of resilient recovery from the 2020 derecho, which damaged all seven historic structures and led to the loss of 70% of the tree canopy across site.
So, what’s next? As a result of these generous donations, staff have started dreaming of 2026 and beyond by planning out the projects that will make the biggest impact on the community. With 26 acres and seven historic buildings, you can imagine that there are a lot of projects on this list! For next year, the plan focuses on:
- Pond water quality improvement efforts
- Formal Garden restoration to reshape the beds, rebuild the tree canopy, and replant with an eye to history and weather changes
- Servants’ Village plantings around the three buildings most recently preserved
- Swimming Pool exploration to bring life back to this iconic part of the estate
Some of these projects will be smaller, like adding aeration and reducing the muck in the pond, and some will be bigger, like developing a solution for the pool. Most importantly, you’ll notice that the list includes buildings and landscape features across the estate. Your support cares for the entire property, creating opportunities for beloved programs in unique spaces that tell our community’s stories.
It’s simple, really. One gift creates a ripple of change, but many gifts create a wave. We are grateful to the many donors who chose to be a part of this wave of change at Brucemore!
Interested in joining? You can donate to the Preservation Fund all year long!