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BAPS Charities donates $165,000 to The Nature Conservancy

November 2017

(Left) A tree-planting ceremony celebrated the 100,000 trees that will be planted as a result of the Walk Green 2017 fundraiser.

In a partnership to plant trees in local communities across North America, BAPS Charities presented The Nature Conservancy (TNC) with a donation of $165,000 raised entirely by the Walk Green 2017 volunteers over the past six months. TNC leadership met at BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir in Lilburn, GA, on October 7, 2017 to meet one of 63 teams from around the country who worked to make the contribution possible. A tree-planting ceremony celebrated the 100,000 trees that will be planted as a result of this gift, supporting the “Plant a Billion Trees by 2020” initiative.

Charlotte Nash (in red) was present for the check donation.

Donations were gathered by over 22,000 walkers who walked over 50,000 collective miles in the annual series of walkathons in 63 locations around North America. Children would often inspire their parents to go out to raise money. Youths reached out to individuals and local and national businesses to gain sponsorships for Walk Green 2017.

BAPS Charities uses these opportunities to instill a spirit of service and commitment to preservation and environmental responsibility in community members. Through participation in events and fundraising activities like Walkathons, participants are actively engaged in conversations and action around sustainability and conservation, becoming owners rather than bystanders.

More widely in its operations, BAPS Charities participates in energy efficiency planning through prioritizing the use of solar power, efficient fiber optics, and efficient lighting fixtures. This culture of environmental responsibility is at the core of BAPS Charities’ work and culture in promoting natural harmony.