Conservancy Reaches Rosemont Preserve Fundraising Goal

Locals pledged enough money to help create the Rosemont Preserve, the Arroyos & Foothills Conservancy announced. 

The 7.2-acre area of open space will bring trails and educational opportunities to La Crescenta residents and people throughout Los Angeles County and costs about $425,000. 

Los Angeles County Supervisor Michael Antonovich, who represents Altadena, helped secure $350,000 in county funding to purchase the conservation land. The community helped donate the rest. 

The Arroyos & Foothills Conservancy also supports open space projects in Altadena and originally started as the Altadena Foothills Conservancy.

On May 14, the group announced it needed $20,000 to secure the area as permanent open space in the Crescenta Valley, free from developers, according to the Arroyos & Foothills Conservancy. 

"Since then, community members have given or pledged a total of $42,000. The excess funds will help provide for the long-term stewardship of the land and will allow AFC to begin planning programs for the local community immediately. From the beginning of the drive the community has generously contributed a total of $97,500," said John Howell, Executive Director of the AFC. 

"We let the community know we needed help and we got it in spades. We're very fortunate to have such a dedicated group of conservationists in the Crescenta Valley, and delighted to have them as partners," Howell said. 

Here are some of the contributors to the project:

• Henry Fliegel of La Crescenta: $12,000
• Wells Fargo Foundation Grant: $10,000
• Scarlett Hibner of La Canada Flintridge: $14,000
• Desiree and Paul Rabinov of La Crescenta: $15,000
• Crescenta Valley Group of the Angeles Chapter of the Sierra Club: $5,000

The following residents and businesses have donated at least $500 to the project: 

• Tracey Alsobrook
• Desdy and Charles Baggott
• Sharon and Scott Bateman
• Tom Brady
• Diana and Jeff Busta
• John Campbell
• Tony Chahine
• Doug Farr
• First Pacific Advisors
• Jackie Genofile
• Dino Gioia
• Barbara and Roy Goto
• Rona and Ian Harris
• Judith and Frederick Hoeptner
• Kevin Kroeker
• Daniel Limonadi
• Deborah and Bob Marlowe
• Neil Mottinger
• Nick and Mike of Keller Williams Realty
• Barbara Nielsen and Bill Bell
• Karen and Steve Pierce
• Anthony Portantino
• Pamela Rogers
• Robert Ruby
• Susie and Clarke Scherff
• Allison and Lake Setzler
• Gloria Surtees
• Lyn and Quentin Swan
• Mary and Michael Veselich
• Linda and Bob Winters
• Roobik Yaghoubi

Assembly Member Mike Gatto and Assembly Member Anthony Portantino helped secure the Wells Fargo grant, Howell said. Portantino is also an AFC advisor.