In keeping with the vision of RiverRocks founders Mike and Stormy McGauley to raise money and awareness for local land trusts and conservancies, recent fund distributions to eight local organizations bring the total contributions to $100,000 over the first three years of the festival.
“Successful conservation efforts start with active engagement with the outdoors,” explains Mike McGauley. “RiverRocks encourages people to experience, learn about. and appreciate the parks and wild spaces surrounding our city. We want everyone to fall in love with these places and help us protect them.”
The Tennessee River Gorge Trust, along with the Trust for Public Land, Lula Lake Land Trust, Friends of the Cumberland Trail, North Chickamauga Creek Conservancy, Chattanooga Arboretum and Nature Center, Friends of Moccasin Bend. and the Lookout Mountain Conservancy all received checks from the RiverRocks festival board.
While the McGauleys recently rotated off the RiverRocks board, new board members include: Ron Harr, president and CEO of the Chattanooga Area Chamber of Commerce; Bob Doak, president and CEO of the Chattanooga Convention and Visitors Bureau; and Jason Taylor, president of the Chattanooga Times Free Press. Returning board members include Paul Brock, Joe Jacobi, Tom Griscom, Randy Whorton, Joe Ferguson, Dawson Wheeler and Cindy Todd.
“We appreciate the vision of Mike and Stormy McGauley in starting a festival to celebrate and help preserve the outdoor resources of our region,” said Paul Brock, current RiverRocks board chair. “In launching RiverRocks, they lit a fuse which will lead to nationwide recognition of Chattanooga’s leadership in participatory outdoor activities.”
The new board members, along with Chattanooga Presents, are currently engaged in producing another series of events October 4-12.
Source: RiverRocks