From the Executive Director: we are an organization powered by members & volunteers

May 20, 2022| Advocacy, Arts & Culture, Community, Education, Environment, Events, Fundraising, LHF Environmental & Cultural Center, People, Recreation, Safety

By: Kyle Richter

Dear Friends,

It is a remarkable thing, turning ten. When an organization passes the decade mark, you can be sure of three things: your cause resonates with the community, you are doing work worth doing, and you have the critical support of the donors and volunteers who provide the foundation for your success.

Our cause resonates with the community because our cause is the community. For us, it is not only about protecting the environment at Lake Hopatcong, it’s also about improving the experience at Lake Hopatcong - through efforts to make our lake safe, accessible, enjoyable, and viable for future generations. And we know this resonates with people who live and recreate here when nearly half of lakefront homeowners have purchased a B-SAFE dock number; when over 100 volunteers, 200 vendors, and thousands of visitors attend the Lake Hopatcong Block Party; and when our group hikes, paddles, and environmental and cultural programs consistently fill to capacity. Our community thrives when our lake thrives, and vice-versa, and that's why we're working to make Lake Hopatcong the best natural, recreational, and economic resource it can be.

We are doing work worth doing, and we’re seeing the results. Over the last decade, we have advocated for Lake Hopatcong at every level of government. Partnering with the Lake Hopatcong Commission on grants has brought in more than a million dollars in funding for the lake in the past two years. Leading the effort to recognize the importance of New Jersey's public lakes resulted in the State legislature appropriating $10M dollars to be distributed over the next few months, the most significant investment ever made by the state in its lakes.

We have the critical support of our donors and volunteers, without whom, we wouldn’t be celebrating this milestone. It is because of your generosity of time and resources that our Field Trip Program, which started seven years ago with just a handful of schools, has now introduced thousands of students to lake ecology and stewardship of our waterways. And through your generous support over the years, you helped us with some big projects, like purchasing our Floating Classroom and permanently preserving and restoring the 112-year-old Lake Hopatcong Train Station, the base of our operations and a cornerstone of Lake Hopatcong’s history.

But we cannot stop here. Together, we’ve accomplished all this and more, and only together will we: create more future advocates by increasing the capacity of our in-demand educational programs; make our lake safer through education, partnerships, and the B-SAFE dock numbering program; provide recreational opportunities within our community by completing the Lake Hopatcong Trail; and improve the health of our lake by building partnerships, advocating for much-needed funding, and implementing innovative water quality projects throughout our watershed.

We are an organization powered by our members and volunteers. Make a contribution today, and together, we will advance into the next decade ready to take on our lake's biggest challenges. Thank you for being part of our legacy and our future!

Donate today! 

With gratitude,
Kyle Richter
Executive Director and LHF Member