The Arboretum Endowment is essential to preserve and expand the programs at the Arboretum. Basically the Endowment is a deposit of funds held in securities of a balanced portfolio; the interest earned from the fund will pay in perpetuity the salary of an ecology-trained staff member in the Department of Biological Sciences. There are several opportunities for individuals and organizations to contribute to the Endowment.
Arboretum Overview
In 1959 Mr. Belser donated a unique parcel of his land in the middle of Columbia, SC to the Department of Biological Sciences of The University of South Carolina as a nature preserve and as a field laboratory station for the USC science students. Carved by rivers and the Atlantic Ocean in former times, The Arboretum offers a highly diverse topography supporting varied habitats within a small area in the middle of the city of Columbia. These micro-ecosystems offered unparalleled opportunity for outdoor science classes at USC.
Over the years changes took place in the property: damaging storms, invasion by non-native species, intrusion of the city to install drainage and sewer lines all left damage and wounds and in 2006 major restoration to undertaken to accommodate University and neighborhood use. The Restoration has progressed with increasing tempo, and now University classes come from the Departments of Biological Sciences, Geology, Women's Study, Philosophy, and English (Eco-poetry). An Open House each month provides outreach to the surrounding neighborhoods. Garden Clubs and other special groups also schedule programs at the Arboretum.
The Arboretum Endowment
An Endowment is essential to preserve and expand the programs at the Arboretum. Basically the Endowment is a deposit of funds held in securities of a balanced portfolio; the interest earned from the fund will pay in perpetuity the salary of an ecology-trained staff member in the Department of Biological Sciences. This manager will maintain the property, run the educational programs, and develop new needed facilities. The manager will be a vital link in the continued well-being of the Arboretum and in the liason with University classes and neighborhood programs. All University Endowments are managed by the USC Educational Foundation. The Arboretum Endowment has its own specific name and account number, and regular reports on its progress are available. Working hand-in-hand with the Educational Foundation is the USC Development Office, which facilitates contacts of each specific Endowment with potential donors.
Ways to contribute to the Arboretum Endowment
The total sum needed for the Endowment is $500,000.00. As the fruit of our active Endowment campaign, contributions and pledges have already amounted to about $100,000.00. Three possible ways to contribute to the Endowment are outlined below.
1. A check in any amount may be mailed to our Development Officer for the College of Arts and Sciences, Mr. Chris DeWolf, Gambrell Hall, Room 257, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC 29208. Please make the check payable to The Educational Foundation, and on the memo line indicate W. Gordon Belser Arboretum Fund, account #811336. Chris will have a letter of acknowledgement sent to each donor and he will relay the checks to the Educational Foundation.
2. Secondly, contributions can be made using the Naming Opportunity option. The University of South Carolina will provide an elegant plaque naming a part of a building, or in our case, a part of the Arboretum, in honor or in memory of a loved one. The University sets the minimum limit of the "opportunity" at $10,000; other possibilities range up to $200,000. The Arboretum is proud to have acceptance of four of our naming opportunity donations: The Carroll E. Lindler Trail, The Bloomwood Gate, The Wilmot Gate, and the Arboretum Outdoor Classroom. A handout sheet "take one" is available in our brochure box at the Bloomwood Road entry gate with details of the Naming Opportunity program.
3. A new and popular avenue towards building the Endowment is the Arboretum's "Gift-of-a-Plant" for a donation of $20 or more at one of our monthly Arboretum Open Houses. The plants will be handsome blooming-size perennial selections with a different Arboretum-grown choice each month, The gift for August 2008 was blanket flower (Gaillardia), September 2008 will be Purple Cone Flower or Brown-eyed Susan, October 2008 - climbing rosemary in bloom, November 2008 - everbearing raspberry canes to produce raspberries in April 2009, December 2008 - blooming Lenten roses, etc.
