Anne Springs Close Greenway receives $100,000 Wells Fargo Environmental Grant
June 4, 2014
FORT MILL, SC — The Anne Springs Close Greenway has received a $100,000 Wells Fargo Environmental Solutions for Communities grant to help preserve and provide education and recreation on its 2,100 acres, minutes south of Charlotte.
The Greenway was selected among 54 environmental nonprofits to receive grant dollars totaling $3 million from Wells Fargo’s environmental solutions program, which supports projects focused on land and water conservation, energy efficiency, infrastructure and educational outreach in communities across America.
“We are delighted to partner with Wells Fargo in our mission to preserve the natural features and beauty of the Anne Springs Close Greenway,” said President Tim Patterson. “Wells Fargo’s generosity demonstrates the bank’s commitment to environmental stewardship and the importance of nature to the health of the Charlotte region.”
With 40 miles of trails, the Greenway offers hiking, biking, kayaking and summer camps, as well as a variety of community festivals and learning opportunities. It drew more than 150,000 visitors last year, ranking it among Charlotte’s top attractions. The land was preserved for community use by Anne Springs Close and her family, which operated the Springs textile mills for more than 100 years.
In April, the nonprofit Greenway announced a $15 million capital campaign to build a welcome center, amphitheater and an endowment that will help fund future programming. The campaign marks the Greenway’s transition toward increased community governance and participation in its management, planning and support. (Information: www.ascgreenway.org.)
The Wells Fargo Environmental Solutions for Communities grant is part of Wells Fargo’s commitment to provide $100 million to environmentally-focused nonprofits and universities by 2020. It is funded by the Wells Fargo Foundation with a $15 million, five-year commitment to promote environmental stewardship across the country.
The grant will help the Greenway:
- Preserve its natural heritage and resources
- Provide recreation through community festivals and daily use of trails, waterways and programs.
- Provide environmental education through summer camps and school programs
- Protect the Steele Creek watershed and other waterways, forests and native plants and animal species.
Administered by the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, the 2013 Wells Fargo Environmental Solutions for Communities grants collectively helped reduce carbon emissions, plant trees and restore natural habitat, while supporting “green” jobs and engaging communities in the grant-supported environmental programs.
“We believe that helping our communities become more resilient and better stewards of the environment will improve the long-term quality of life of our customers and team members,” said Mary Wenzel, head of Wells Fargo Environmental Affairs. “We’re proud to support the Anne Springs Close Greenway with both grant dollars and support from our local employees, who volunteer their time and efforts.”
About Anne Springs Close Greenway
Opened in 1995, the Anne Springs Close Greenway is a 2,100-acre natural preserve that offers hiking, biking, kayaking and more, while maintaining a natural habitat for wildlife. Its mission is to provide stewardship and protect the cultural, ecological and scenic features of the land, while also offering recreational and educational opportunities that promote the health and wellness of the community. Owned and operated by the nonprofit Leroy Springs & Co., Inc., the Greenway is funded in part by the generous donations from individuals and corporations.
About Wells Fargo
Wells Fargo & Company (NYSE: WFC) is a nationwide, diversified, community-based financial services company with $1.5 trillion in assets. Founded in 1852 and headquartered in San Francisco, Wells Fargo provides banking, insurance, investments, mortgage, and consumer and commercial finance through more than 9,000 locations, 12,500 ATMs, and the internet (wellsfargo.com), and has offices in 36 countries to support customers who conduct business in the global economy. With more than 265,000 team members, Wells Fargo serves one in three households in the United States. Wells Fargo & Company was ranked No. 25 on Fortune’s 2013 rankings of America’s largest corporations. Wells Fargo’s vision is to satisfy all our customers’ financial needs and help them succeed financially. Wells Fargo. In 2013, the Company invested $275.5 million in grants to 18,500 nonprofits, and team members contributed more than 1.69 million volunteer hours around the country.
A leader in reducing its own greenhouse gas emissions and operating sustainably, Wells Fargo has been recognized by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Center for Corporate Climate Leadership, the Carbon Disclosure Project and the U.S. Green Building Council. Since 2005, Wells Fargo has provided more than $28 billion in environmental finance, supporting sustainable buildings and renewable energy projects nationwide. This includes investments in more than 300 solar projects and 47 wind projects that generate enough clean renewable energy to power hundreds of thousands of American homes each year. For more information, please visit:www.wellsfargo.com/about/csr and the Wells Fargo Environmental Forum.
