The Westport Woman’s Club’s Ruegg Committee presented their 2019 Ruegg Grant, in the amount of $10,000, to Aspetuck Land Trust to help sponsor their “Green Corridor: Saugatuck to Shore" program, focusing on "Westport: A Model of Change." The WWC grant will be used to educate and motivate homeowners to take care of their yards in more sustainable ways to increase biodiversity and improve our environment by planting native plants, switching to organic lawn care and reducing pesticide usage. The land trust is developing two model native landscape demonstration sites at Earthplace and the land trust’s Caryl and Edna Haskins Preserve on Green Acre Lane to educate Westport residents how to do this. This effort will involve workshops and partnerships with Westport non-profits as well as local businesses. Aspetuck Land Trust has stated, "Ever homeowner can make a difference by taking care of their yards in more sustainable ways,” To learn more visit aspetucklandtrus.org/Green Corridor.
Founded in 1966, Aspetuck Land Trust is a non-profit membership organization whose mission is the preservation and conservation of open space, including farm and forestland, and the natural resources located thereon, primarily in the towns of Easton, Weston, Fairfield and Westport, for the benefit and education of the public. Their vision is "to create a healthier community by establishing a Green Corridor that connects and engages our communities and safeguards our land, wildlife and water resources for future generations."
The Westport Woman’s Club, established in 1907, is a non-profit social philanthropic organization dedicated to volunteerism and the raising of funds for charitable purposes. Capital for its Ruegg Grant was provided by a 1995 endowment bequest by member Lea Ruegg, with the stipulation that the WWC annually award the grant to a deserving non-profit or service organization for an important initiative in the arts, education or health and safety. Past beneficiaries include Wakeman Town Farm, Westport Astronomical Society, Project Return, Earthplace, The Westport Police Department, Susan G. Komen for the Cure Connecticut, Hall-Brooke Behavioral Health Services, Nursing and Home Care, Westport Center for Senior Activities, Interfaith Housing Association, Mercy Learning Center, Toquet Hall, Clasp Homes, Westport Weston Family Y, Wakeman Town Farm and ITN Coastal CT.