New Jersey Resources Announces $500,000 Funding Commitment to Restore and Transform Scudder Preserve in Monmouth County
June 27 2024 - 7:00AM
Business Wire
- Funds will benefit Monmouth Conservation Foundation's
stewardship of Scudder Preserve, enabling improvements to restore
natural aspects of the property, expand recreational access and
educational programming for the public, and strengthen climate
resilience.
- The project is part of NJR's 2023 pledge to commit up to $2
million through its Coastal Climate Initiative (CCI) to support
environmental stewardship and education efforts in New Jersey.
Building on its commitment to environmental stewardship and
support of community resiliency, New Jersey Resources (NYSE: NJR)
today announced a five-year, $500,000 funding commitment to
Monmouth Conservation Foundation (MCF) through the company’s
Coastal Climate Initiative (CCI). NJR’s gift will help bring to
life MCF’s vision to restore and improve the Scudder Preserve, an
important natural habitat in Middletown, Monmouth County, New
Jersey, benefitting the local community for generations to
come.
“New Jersey Resources understands that more resilient and
sustainable communities make our business stronger too, and we’re
committed to making a positive impact through our Coastal Climate
Initiative and our broader charitable efforts,” said Steve
Westhoven, President and CEO of New Jersey Resources. “Providing
this gift to restore and improve Scudder Preserve is a rare
opportunity to make a significant difference with a single parcel
of property that will benefit the local community for years to
come.”
Scudder Preserve is a 90-acre, densely wooded, preserved
habitat, which is home to century forest, grasslands, streams and
riparian corridors, nature trails, several ponds, and a home. The
property was originally owned by the Scudder family, who donated
conservation easements to MCF and later donated the 90-acre
property to New Jersey Audubon Society (NJA). Earlier this year,
NJA transferred ownership of the property to MCF, a nonprofit land
trust that focuses on open space preservation throughout Monmouth
County.
“New Jersey Resources shares our vision of environmental
stewardship within our local community,” said William Kastning,
Executive Director of the Monmouth Conservation Foundation.
“Teaming up with NJR through this agreement, we’re able to actively
demonstrate sustainability and inspire the vision to expand
education and inspire land stewardship for future generations.
NJR’s dedication, both in funding and attention to local
communities, is invaluable. With their support and collaboration,
we’re transforming Scudder Preserve into the natural sanctuary
Monmouth County residents have been longing for.”
NJR’s funding will support specific, actionable strategies of
MCF’s plan for the preserve:
- Conduct a comprehensive natural resource inventory;
- Devise and implement a site restoration and management
plan;
- Assess and devise a climate resilient public access strategy;
and,
- Build and launch an educational outreach program at Scudder
Preserve.
In whole, these efforts underwritten by NJR at Scudder Preserve
will result in forest restoration and habitat management to reduce
invasive species, restore biodiversity and ecosystem function,
including water quality benefits, greater climate resilience from
native planting, and site improvements that reduce erosion and
mitigate storm- and flood-water flows. The work at the preserve
will focus on expanding public access and education through trail
and facility improvements, allowing local communities to benefit
from open space and nature.
NJR’s gift is made possible through NJR’s 2023 pledge to commit
up to $2 million over five years through its charities, dedicated
to supporting the work of CCI on natural resource management and
education, climate resilience, and environmental stewardship in the
communities it serves. NJR will also seek opportunities for
employees to collaborate with MCF on future volunteerism and
education efforts.
In addition to the support from NJR, MCF previously announced it
had secured a private philanthropic gift of $1 million, providing
seed support for MCF’s transition into its ongoing management of
Scudder Preserve.
This project adds to NJR’s broader sustainability efforts,
demonstrated in part through CCI. Over the last year NJR has
successfully continued to incorporate sustainability across its
business. A few highlights include:
- Announced a milestone five-year funding commitment of $560,000
from its charitable foundation to advance local environmental
improvements in partnership with New Jersey Audubon.
- Provided nearly $2 million in charitable and volunteer support
to community nonprofits in NJR’s last fiscal year, including
approximately 4,000 hours of volunteer service – nearly double the
amount of the previous year.
- Achieved the highest single-year investment of $59 million in
New Jersey Natural Gas’ energy-efficiency programs – cutting carbon
emissions by helping customers reduce their energy
consumption.
- Continued to advance cutting-edge, lower-carbon energy
solutions, including the installation of carbon capture technology
and high-efficiency gas heat pumps in NJR’s own facilities.
- Construction of North America’s largest capped landfill solar
array and largest floating solar array – both located in New
Jersey.
- Named one of America’s Most Responsible Companies by Newsweek
for the fifth consecutive year – one of only 156 companies
nationwide to be recognized every year since 2020.
About New Jersey Resources
New Jersey Resources (NYSE: NJR) is a Fortune 1000 company that,
through its subsidiaries, provides safe and reliable natural gas
and clean energy services, including transportation, distribution,
asset management and home services. NJR is composed of five primary
businesses:
- New Jersey Natural Gas, NJR’s principal subsidiary,
operates and maintains natural gas transportation and distribution
infrastructure to serve approximately 582,000 customers in New
Jersey’s Monmouth, Ocean and parts of Morris, Middlesex, Sussex and
Burlington counties.
- Clean Energy Ventures invests in, owns and operates
solar projects with a total capacity of approximately 474
megawatts, providing residential and commercial customers with
low-carbon solutions.
- Energy Services manages a diversified portfolio of
natural gas transportation and storage assets and provides physical
natural gas services and customized energy solutions to its
customers across North America.
- Storage and Transportation serves customers from local
distributors and producers to electric generators and wholesale
marketers through its ownership of Leaf River Energy Center and the
Adelphia Gateway Pipeline, as well as our 50% equity ownership in
the Steckman Ridge natural gas storage facility.
- Home Services provides service contracts as well as
heating, central air conditioning, water heaters, standby
generators, solar and other indoor and outdoor comfort products to
residential homes throughout New Jersey.
NJR and its over 1,300 employees are committed to helping
customers save energy and money by promoting conservation and
encouraging efficiency through Conserve to Preserve® and
initiatives such as SAVEGREEN™ and The Sunlight Advantage®.
For more information about NJR visit www.njresources.com. Follow
us on X (formerly Twitter) @NJNaturalGas. “Like” us on
facebook.com/NewJerseyNaturalGas.
About Monmouth Conservation Foundation
Founded in 1977, Monmouth Conservation Foundation is an
independent nonprofit land trust that has preserved more than 9,400
acres of green space in Monmouth County. Accredited by the Land
Trust Commission since 2014, MCF collaborates with private and
public partners to acquire and preserve open space and farmland and
conserve natural habitats throughout Monmouth County in support of
outdoor recreation, agriculture, clean water, and wildlife for
long-term sustainability. MCF leads conservation and education
efforts to preserve and protect our natural environment, so all
individuals and communities have access to and can benefit from
open space and nature for generations to come. Connect with us on
Facebook, Instagram, or LinkedIn.
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version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240627899479/en/
Media: Mike Kinney 732-938-1031 mkinney@njresources.com
Investors: Adam Prior 732-938-1145 aprior@njresources.com
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