History

The Everglades Foundation was formed by a group of outdoor enthusiasts, environmentalists and residents of Florida who were concerned over the decline of the Everglades and the resulting damage in the nearby natural and protected areas such as Florida Bay

Florida Bay

Florida Bay is the bay located between the southern end of the Florida mainland and the Florida Keys. Its area is variously stated to be , or , or . Nearly all of Florida Bay is included in Everglades National Park. The southern edge, along the Florida Keys is in the Florida Keys National Marine...

. The original founding members, George Barley, a wealthy Orlando developer, and billionaire Paul Tudor Jones II

Paul Tudor Jones

Paul Tudor Jones II , is the founder of Tudor Investment Corporation, which is the management company for his various private investment partnerships, also referred to as hedge funds. As of March 2011, he was estimated to have a net worth of USD 3.3 billion by Forbes Magazine and ranked as 336th...

, spearheaded the organization's growth, and shared the same concern over the steady decline of the environmental balance in this unique and delicate ecosystem, due to poor water management and pollution.

The Foundation was created and founded in 1993, and is currently operated as a not-for-profit 501(c)(3) charitable organization. This organization is supported by noteworthy performers, professional athletes, and business persons. Included in the list is Jimmy Buffett

Jimmy Buffett

James William "Jimmy" Buffett is a singer-songwriter, author, entrepreneur, and film producer. He is best known for his music, which often portrays an "island escapism" lifestyle. Together with his Coral Reefer Band, Buffett's musical hits include "Margaritaville" , and "Come Monday"...

 and golfer Jack Nicklaus

Jack Nicklaus

Jack William Nicklaus , nicknamed "The Golden Bear", is an American professional golfer. He won 18 career major championships on the PGA Tour over a span of 25 years and is widely regarded as one of the greatest professional golfers of all time. In addition to his 18 Majors, he was runner-up a...

.

Focus

The Everglades Foundation is dedicated to advancing an understanding of the Greater Everglades ecosystem and its irreplaceable environmental and economic value. The organization is funded primarily from private donations. The Foundation’s board covers administrative and fund raising expenses separately and entirely each year. This allows the Foundation to state that 100 percent of each donation goes directly to support programs to restore the Everglades. Donations provide scientists, policy analysts, researchers, communications experts and other professionals with funding to address complex issues involved in saving the River of Grass. The Everglades Foundation directs some of their resources toward the organizations that hold congruent philosophies on Everglades restoration. Foundation-supported grant programs allow collaboration instead of competition with several non-profit organizations to focus efforts instead of working individually on like-minded environmental concerns

The organization employs PH.D-level scientists who work to promote the understanding of the greater Everglades ecosystem. The Foundation provides its expertise and research to these partner organizations in addition to grant funding. This is one of the strengths of the organization, and as such, the Everglades Foundation is often called on to provide expertise on policy issues impacting the Everglades with local governments such as Miami-Dade County, Florida

Miami-Dade County, Florida

Miami-Dade County is a county located in the southeastern part of the state of Florida. As of 2010 U.S. Census, the county had a population of 2,496,435, making it the most populous county in Florida and the eighth-most populous county in the United States...

, as well as the federal Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan

Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan

The Central and Southern Florida Project, which was first authorized by Congress in 1948, is a multi-purpose project that provides flood control, water supply for municipal, industrial, and agricultural uses, prevention of saltwater intrusion, water supply for Everglades National Park, and...

(CERP) project.

C111 N. Spreader Canal

The C-111 N. Spreader Canal project entails constructing a stormwater treatment area and pump station, in addition to extending a spreader canal by two miles, and adding culverts and other features to benefit and improve health and water quality of the southern part of the Everglades wetlands. This project is in conjunction with the Army Corp of Engineers. and is a part of CERP.

U.S. Sugar Corp. Land

The Foundation’s scientific research supports data that shows the acquisition of U.S. Sugar Corp. land will allow for water delivery, water treatment and water storage of sufficient quantity and quality to mimic the Everglades' natural system. Water delivery and treatment aids in returning the ecosystem to a more natural state from its current water-deprived condition.

Tamiami Trail

An $81 million contract was awarded by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to build a bridge to help restore and replenish fresh water flows in Everglades National Park and to nourish the ecosystem.

Fundraising

The Everglades Foundation holds an annual benefit known as the ForEverglades Benefit in Palm Beach, Fla., in February to increase awareness and funding to support scientific research and other programs related to Everglades restoration. Last year, the Foundation awarded matching grants of more than $1.3 million to more than a dozen environmental organizations. The Everglades Foundation also dedicates funds for legal action to ensure the protection of the Everglades if needed.

Mather Economic Study

In October 2010, the Everglades Foundation released the results of a comprehensive analysis of the financial return on investment generated by restoration of America’s Everglades ecosystem. The study, conducted by Mather Economics, projects that restoration will produce an increase in economic benefits of approximately $46.5 billion that could range up to $123.9 billion based on an investment of $11.5 billion.

The study shows that for every one dollar spent on Everglades restoration as part of the Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan (CERP), $4.04 will be generated in economic benefits. Projections indicate that there will be an incremental impact on employment of about 442,644 additional jobs over 50 years. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers also estimates there will be 22,966 new short- to mid-term jobs created as a result of actual restoration projects.

The study can be found at: http://www.evergladesfoundation.org/pages/reports-and-surveys/