Contact:  

Kathi Anderson                    Patrick Woods                   Deborah Sabin Kanzer
Walden Woods Project        Ocean Alliance                   Lovelane Special Needs
(781) 259-4701                   (781) 259-0423                   Horseback Riding Program, Inc.
                                                                                     (781) 259-1177

Lincoln-based Walden Woods Project, Ocean Alliance, and Lovelane Special Needs Horseback Riding Program Chosen for

2003 Catalogue for Philanthropy

(BOSTON, MA) Lincoln-based organizations -- the Walden Woods Project, the Ocean Alliance, and Lovelane Special Needs Horseback Riding Program -- have been selected as Massachusetts’ 2003 Catalogue for Philanthropy charities.  The Catalogue, conceived and supported by the Ellis L Phillips Foundation with help from other foundations and corporations, profiles outstanding cultural, environmental, and human service agencies in Massachusetts. The Walden Woods Project, the Ocean Alliance, and Lovelane were chosen from an applicant pool of over 200 organizations.

The Walden Woods Project preserves the land, literature, and legacy of Henry David Thoreau to foster an ethic of environmental stewardship and social responsibility.  Founded in 1990, the Project achieves this mission through the integration of conservation, education, and research.  In 13 years, the organization has protected nearly 140 acres in Walden Woods.  In addition, since 1998, the Project has offered quality environmental and humanities programming for hundreds of high school and middle school teachers and students.  The Walden Woods Project’s Thoreau Institute at Walden Woods has provided reference services for over fifteen hundred students, scholars and writers.

Selected for the Venture Philanthropy category, the Ocean Alliance is managed by a team of pioneering scientists and educators who have led the field of whale biology and ocean conservation since 1970.  At the helm is renowned biologist Dr. Roger Payne, whose research began with the Patagonia Right Whale Program, now in its 33^rd year, and continues with the Voyage of the Odyssey, a global, interactive research expedition currently in the Indian Ocean. Follow the Voyage of the Odyssey online at www.pbs.org/odyssey.         

Lovelane, a therapeutic horseback riding program founded in 1988, currently has 63 students who have a wide range of special needs and a waiting list of more than 100 children.  The program currently operates from two leased facilities, one in Lincoln and one in Weston.  Lovelane recently purchased land in Lincoln to build their first permanent home, including an indoor arena where the children will be able to ride year-round.  Debby Kanzer, founder of Lovelane, stated “We are honored to be included in The Catalogue for Philanthropy.  In addition to the prestige and credibility this brings to our organization, we hope that the exposure will help with our capital fundraising campaign to build the new facility.”

The Catalogue, first published in 1997, has raised over $12,000,000 in gifts and pledges for individual charities, and has played a leadership role in increasing charitable giving in Massachusetts and New England.  Now independently incorporated, the Catalogue intends to provide donor-friendly systems to increase charitable giving nationwide.  Catalogue-based systems are planned for 2003 in Washington, D.C. and St. Louis, MO, among other places. The Catalogue also originated the national Generosity Index, using IRS data to rank states according to their combined ranks in charitable giving and income.

According to George McCully, President of the Catalogue, “The Catalogue is designed to be a showcase for Massachusetts philanthropy and a one-stop-shop for a family’s charitable giving. A single check, electronic transaction over the web (www.catalogueforphilanthropy.org) or stock transfer can be allocated to as many charities as the donor pleases, and because the Catalogue is sponsored and paid-for by its philanthropic sponsors, 100% of every donation goes to the designated charities.” The Walden Woods Project, the Ocean Alliance, and Lovelane were chosen in rigorous competition by senior professional grantmakers. “Charities are selected for general excellence, cost-effectiveness, and teaching value about philanthropy,” McCully said.

About the Walden Woods Project

The Walden Woods Project is a national conservation, education, and research organization committed to preserving the land, literature and legacy of Henry David Thoreau. Founded in 1990 by recording artist Don Henley, the organization uses the land it has protected in Walden Woods to foster an ethic of environmental stewardship and social responsibility, both cornerstones of Thoreau's philosophy. In 14 years, the Project has protected nearly 140 acres in and around Walden Woods and provided educational programming for hundreds of teachers, students, and life long learners. The Walden Woods Project also administers The Thoreau Institute, a research center near Walden Pond that houses the world’s foremost collection of Thoreau-related materials.