NewCanaanite.com recently received the following letter. Send letters to editor@newcanaanite.com to have them published here.
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On May 27th, the New Canaan Land Trust honored Chris Schipper with the Jack Gunther Legacy Award at the sold-out Legacy of the Land Celebration, held at the Roger Sherman Inn. The event welcomed 182 guests who gathered to recognize Chris’s extraordinary leadership and lasting contributions to open space protection and conservation in New Canaan.
Both Jack Gunther, co-founder of the New Canaan Land Trust, and Chris Schipper served as Chairs of the Conservation Commission and shared a deep commitment to preserving open space. During his first decade as president, Jack Gunther established the strong conservation legacy on which the Land Trust continues to build, overseeing the donation of more than 130 acres of protected land. Building on that legacy, Chris expanded and strengthened the organization by opening preserves and trails to the public and leading stewardship initiatives that restored and enhanced natural habitats throughout the community. Thanks to his leadership, the Land Trust now protects more than 400 acres of open space for future generations.
The evening’s success was made possible through the generous support of our sponsors. We extend our sincere gratitude to Media Sponsor Moffly Media; Colhoun sponsor Corbets Capital; Still Pond sponsors Brightview Senior Living on New Canaan, Fletcher|Wakefield, Karl Chevrolet, PURE Insurance, and Walter Stewart’s Market; and Firefly Sponsors Anderson Kenny Architecture, AN Family Dentistry, Brian Capone Landscaping, Cassie Dominio KRK|Compass, Cross Insurance, Davenport and Schettino|Compass, Hutchinson Tree Service, IT Benchmark, Renaissance Partners, and Sanda’s Cleaners. We also thank On Brookside for providing the beautiful place settings that elevated the dining experience for our guests.
A special thank you goes to the Roger Sherman Inn and the Benedetti family for graciously hosting the celebration after construction delays at Waveny House made our original venue unavailable. Understanding the extraordinary circumstances and wishing to support both the New Canaan Land Trust and Chris Schipper, the Benedetti family made a special exception that truly saved the evening. Their generosity, flexibility, and kindness made this memorable celebration possible, while the Inn’s beautiful setting added to the occasion. We are deeply grateful for their support.
During the event, Board President Cristen Cottrell announced the creation of the Chris Schipper Open Space Fund as part of the Preserving the Future campaign. The fund will support the acquisition and preservation of open space for generations to come. To learn more about the Preserving the Future campaign or to donate to the Chris Schipper Open Space Fund, visit preservingthefuture.newcanaanlandtrust.org.
Sincerely,
Robin Bates-Mason
Executive Director, New Canaan Land Trust