2022 – 2023 Annual Report
We are delighted to present our 2022-2023 Annual Report with heartfelt appreciation for our donors, partners, and supporters' incredible impact on our students, educators, and the state.
We are delighted to present our 2022-2023 Annual Report with heartfelt appreciation for our donors, partners, and supporters' incredible impact on our students, educators, and the state.
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<strong>2022</strong> - <strong>2023</strong><br />
ANNUAL REPORT
OUR MISSION is to awaken in children a deeply<br />
felt connection to the natural world—one that<br />
inspires curiosity, stimulates learning, and brings<br />
new life to classroom performance.<br />
1<br />
A Note From Our<br />
Board Chair<br />
2 Fiscal Year Overview<br />
3<br />
The Importance of<br />
Muddy Sneakers<br />
4 Programming:<br />
<strong>2022</strong> - <strong>2023</strong><br />
School Year<br />
9 Community<br />
Programs<br />
10 Why I Give<br />
12 Gratitude to You!<br />
13 Community<br />
Partners<br />
14<br />
Thank You to <strong>2022</strong><br />
- <strong>2023</strong> Donors<br />
17<br />
18<br />
20<br />
Many Pathways to<br />
Giving<br />
Board of Directors,<br />
Piedmont Advisory<br />
Council, Staff<br />
The Path Forward:<br />
A Note from Our<br />
Executive Director
A NOTE FROM<br />
OUR BOARD CHAIR<br />
Dear Friends and Supporters of Muddy Sneakers,<br />
It is my pleasure to present to you Muddy Sneakers’<br />
<strong>Annual</strong> <strong>Report</strong> for <strong>2022</strong> - <strong>2023</strong>, a year characterized<br />
by a significant milestone, thanks to your unwavering<br />
support: the completion of 16 years of dedicated<br />
service to North Carolina’s public schools.<br />
This landmark year was marked by a number of significant accomplishments - most<br />
notably the successful hiring and onboarding of our new Executive Director, David<br />
Rahahę•tih Webb.<br />
David’s visionary leadership has invigorated our team and brought fresh perspectives<br />
to our mission. Guided by his leadership and inspired by 16 years of cherished<br />
memories, milestones, and meaningful connections, the Muddy Sneakers team has<br />
meticulously crafted a comprehensive two-year plan. This strategic blueprint<br />
addresses the evolving needs of schools we serve, while increasing our capacity to<br />
enrich learning and reach students across our state. Additionally, our refined approach<br />
to forging strategic partnerships allows us to expand our reach while preserving our<br />
core commitment to academic excellence in the schools we support.<br />
These initiatives will allow us to guide more students than ever along forest trails,<br />
through babbling brooks, and under the vast canopy of trees, all the while weaving<br />
together the threads of science, conservation, and personal well-being.<br />
We are able to be there for our schools because you are here in support of our<br />
mission. Together, we served 3,074 students and bolstered the teaching aptitude of<br />
137 educators during the <strong>2022</strong>-23 school year. Your gifts, dedication, and<br />
volunteering makes this work possible.<br />
As we reflect on the past year's achievements, we are excited about the path ahead,<br />
where we will ignite within more than 4,200 students a passion for learning that is as<br />
boundless as the natural world itself. We invite you to join us in embracing the future<br />
- a future where every child has the opportunity to connect with nature, to learn with<br />
wonder, and to grow with purpose.<br />
With heartfelt gratitude for your ongoing support,<br />
Betsy Jordan<br />
CHAIR, BOARD OF DIRECTORS<br />
1
FISCAL YEAR JULY 1, <strong>2022</strong> - JUNE 30, <strong>2023</strong><br />
REVENUE/TOTAL FUNDING: $1,714,191<br />
Individual Contributions<br />
Private Grants<br />
Public Grants<br />
Corporate Contributions<br />
Program Revenue<br />
Investment Income<br />
Other<br />
36%<br />
30%<br />
15%<br />
3%<br />
14%<br />
1%<br />
1%<br />
Achieving this strong revenue year represents fiscally conservative fund management paired<br />
with great generosity from private foundations, community partners, and funders like you. The<br />
success in fiscal year <strong>2023</strong> allowed funds to be held for significant growth in numbers served<br />
during fiscal year 2024, taking schools off our waiting list. Please know that your investment in<br />
Muddy Sneakers is stewarded with great care for lasting impact.<br />
EXPENSE: $1,324,655<br />
Programming Activities<br />
General Operations<br />
Development<br />
72%<br />
18%<br />
10%<br />
*In order to share our fiscal year <strong>2022</strong> - <strong>2023</strong> successes with you in a timely manner, we are<br />
reporting unaudited financials in this document. This fiscal year audit is underway currently.<br />
We do not anticipate any changes.<br />
Muddy Sneakers is proud<br />
to have again achieved a<br />
Platinum Star rating from<br />
Candid (formerly known<br />
as Guidestar).<br />
If you support nonprofits, Candid<br />
matters to you. They collect and<br />
share comprehensive info on all<br />
IRS-registered nonprofits, aiding<br />
your giving decisions.<br />
2
THE IMPORTANCE OF MUDDY SNEAKERS<br />
Findings from the <strong>2022</strong>-<strong>2023</strong> NC State University Program Evaluation <strong>Report</strong><br />
CONNECTION TO NATURE<br />
82%<br />
97%<br />
85%<br />
89%<br />
84%<br />
76%<br />
90%<br />
81%<br />
Students report that Muddy Sneakers<br />
introduced them to local public lands for<br />
the first time.<br />
ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT<br />
Teachers agree or strongly agree that because of Muddy Sneakers, students...<br />
Have a better understanding of science.<br />
Score higher on science tests.<br />
Demonstrate improved critical thinking<br />
skills.<br />
SUPPORT FOR EDUCATORS<br />
Teachers agree or strongly agree that Muddy Sneakers has helped them...<br />
Teach science more effectively.<br />
Teach more effectively overall.<br />
Feel supported as a teacher.<br />
Connect with their students.<br />
SOCIAL, EMOTIONAL, PHYSICAL WELL-BEING<br />
Students report that Muddy Sneakers made them feel...<br />
48%<br />
71%<br />
70%<br />
64%<br />
Focused & ready to learn.<br />
More calm.<br />
Desire to share what they learned with<br />
family and friends.<br />
More likely to come to school.<br />
Teachers report that Muddy Sneakers helps students...<br />
Form relationships with peers they may<br />
87% not connect with in the classroom.<br />
3
<strong>2022</strong> - <strong>2023</strong> PROGRAMMING<br />
A<br />
s students and teachers returned to<br />
the classroom, Muddy Sneakers<br />
played a vital role in helping them<br />
overcome the challenges of recent years<br />
and addressing new issues stemming<br />
from policies and budget cuts. We<br />
provided valuable assistance to<br />
educators during another school year<br />
marked by high attrition rates and<br />
teacher shortages.<br />
Our strong, established relationships<br />
with classroom teachers allowed us to<br />
tailor our support to meet the unique<br />
needs of each school partner.<br />
With Muddy Sneakers' unwavering<br />
support, students received crucial help<br />
rebuilding their social-emotional<br />
development and enhancing their<br />
learning experiences.<br />
Throughout our partnership, we<br />
recognized the increasing benefits we<br />
could offer our school partners through<br />
our expertise and support. For teachers,<br />
we provided hands-on field expeditions,<br />
engaging LIVE! Online programs<br />
(formerly Skype-a-Sneaker), and an<br />
ever-expanding Classroom Curriculum,<br />
reinforcing essential subjects like<br />
science, math, social studies, language<br />
arts, and visual arts.<br />
Our N.C. State University research<br />
partnership revealed that Muddy<br />
Sneakers helped teachers combat<br />
burnout, foster meaningful student<br />
connections, and improve behaviors and<br />
test scores, especially for students facing<br />
challenges in traditional classrooms.<br />
Muddy Sneakers remains committed to<br />
positively impacting our schools and<br />
communities.<br />
4
<strong>2022</strong> - <strong>2023</strong><br />
PROGRAMMING<br />
(continued)<br />
Students who struggled at school<br />
thrived on expeditions, outdoors, and<br />
in small groups focused on peer<br />
experiences. The outdoor learning<br />
environment offered a new space for<br />
students to shine in ways often<br />
overlooked inside school walls.<br />
On Muddy Sneakers expeditions,<br />
students run, play, laugh, observe,<br />
explore, wonder, create, ponder, and<br />
challenge themselves.<br />
They interact with their peers and<br />
teachers differently, building<br />
relationships that transfer back to the<br />
classroom. <strong>Report</strong>s indicated that<br />
anxiety decreased as students found<br />
moments of peaceful reflection and<br />
joyful exploration. Students studied<br />
science in real-world applications,<br />
helping them attach meaning to the<br />
content and find personal relevance<br />
in their learning experiences.<br />
As we look to the future, we<br />
recognize that the path ahead is not<br />
void of challenges, but through<br />
continued partnership, we will face<br />
these obstacles alongside our school<br />
partners.<br />
It is through these shared efforts<br />
that we ignite curiosity in our youth<br />
and ensure future stewards of North<br />
Carolina’s 3.9 million acres of<br />
protected natural spaces.<br />
5
87,518 HOURS<br />
3,632<br />
STUDENTS<br />
53<br />
137<br />
SCHOOLS /PARTNERS<br />
TEACHERS<br />
64<br />
SITES<br />
6<br />
= WESTERN N.C. = PIEDMONT N.C. = COMMUNITY PROGRAMS
WESTERN NORTH CAROLINA<br />
With the addition of six new partner schools for the <strong>2022</strong>-23 school year, the western<br />
North Carolina region served a total of 33 public schools, 88 fifth-grade classroom<br />
teachers, and 1,885 fifth-grade students. We welcomed back several long-term<br />
partners including all five Asheville City Schools, four Polk County schools and our<br />
original school partner, Brevard Elementary, for their 16th year of programming. With<br />
the addition of three schools, Henderson County continued to work towards their<br />
goal of providing Muddy Sneakers to all public school 5th graders by <strong>2023</strong>-24. There<br />
is a continued focus to add additional school partners in the High Country where we<br />
currently partner with two Watauga County schools, Valle Crucis and Mabel<br />
Elementary. With more than 57,000 student contact hours, WNC continued to<br />
expand and offered the Muddy Sneakers experience to an additional 400 students.<br />
PIEDMONT NORTH CAROLINA<br />
The Piedmont region continued to experience steady growth this year as we<br />
welcomed three new schools and served 269 additional students. Expansion took<br />
place in Forsyth, Guilford, and Montgomery Counties. We will continue to build<br />
relationships in hopes of serving more Triad students. Rowan-Salisbury School<br />
District continued to be an avid supporter of Muddy Sneakers, renewing nine<br />
elementary schools and expressing interest in adding more in the years to come. In<br />
total, the Piedmont region partnered with 14 public schools and compiled more than<br />
30,000 contact hours with 1,030 students and 44 fifth-grade classroom teachers.<br />
REMOTE PARTNERSHIPS<br />
For the second consecutive year, remote<br />
partnerships were offered to schools<br />
outside of our current geographic<br />
footprint. In Orange County, Hillsborough<br />
Elementary returned for a second year of<br />
virtual programming and teacherfacilitated<br />
remote expeditions. Wake<br />
County’s Millbrook Elementary joined as a<br />
first time remote partner and found the<br />
Muddy Sneakers Classroom Curriculum<br />
valuable for nearly 100 5th grade<br />
students. Remote partnerships continue to<br />
be an option for schools beyond our reach<br />
and a pathway to introduce Muddy<br />
Sneakers to schools as we anticipate<br />
growth throughout the state.<br />
Hillsborough Elementary, photo courtesy<br />
Jennifer Warren, 5th Grade Teacher<br />
7
“I had reluctant learners become more engaged<br />
in science, and fearful students faced challenges and<br />
were willing to do things outside their comfort zone.”<br />
(Teacher quote from <strong>2022</strong>-<strong>2023</strong> NC State University Program Evaluation <strong>Report</strong>)<br />
8
COMMUNITY PROGRAMS<br />
COMMUNITY PROGRAMS<br />
D<br />
emand for Muddy Sneakers’<br />
expertise and services continued<br />
to grow beyond the borders of our<br />
traditional 5th-grade school<br />
partnerships - and we rose to meet that<br />
challenge through Community<br />
Programs!<br />
Community Programs are hands-on<br />
science experiences designed to meet<br />
the needs of various communities<br />
outside of our annual partnership model,<br />
such as schools not currently partnering<br />
with Muddy Sneakers, private schools,<br />
homeschools, and fellow non-profit<br />
organizations, like Boys & Girls Clubs.<br />
Through these efforts, we delivered 26<br />
days of programs for more than 550<br />
participants who would otherwise not<br />
have access to Muddy Sneakers through<br />
our traditional school programming<br />
options.<br />
We look forward to reaching more<br />
community members and youth<br />
through school breaks, weekends, and<br />
after-school programs. We welcome<br />
your advice and ideas on program<br />
opportunities for your community.<br />
9
WHY I GIVE<br />
by Jennifer Browning, Valle Crucis, NC<br />
I<br />
did not grow up in the cool, green<br />
mountains of North Carolina. I did not<br />
intend to call this home. I only intended<br />
to have a seasonal retreat away from the<br />
stifling summer heat of the place that I<br />
did call home. So much for intentions.<br />
I also did not grow up<br />
loving the outdoors.<br />
Maybe because of<br />
the heat. Or maybe<br />
because I just naturally<br />
leaned toward dolls,<br />
books, the telephone,<br />
and air conditioning.<br />
So it surprises me -<br />
and many people who<br />
have known me for a<br />
long time - that we<br />
have chosen rural<br />
North Carolina as our<br />
forever home.<br />
And the very things<br />
I never valued much are also much of<br />
the reason.<br />
The beauty of the land. The rural<br />
protected spaces. The majesty of<br />
nature.<br />
Jennifer Browning,<br />
Muddy Sneakers Supporter<br />
Last summer my husband, Walter, and I<br />
were introduced to the work of Muddy<br />
Sneakers at a Grandfather Mountain<br />
gathering.<br />
We heard from board members and<br />
staff members about the good work<br />
and what it meant to<br />
school children and<br />
teachers alike. We<br />
heard about what it<br />
meant for test scores.<br />
And about program<br />
expansion plans - and<br />
about the great need<br />
for even more<br />
expansion.<br />
But one viewpoint<br />
stood out to me.<br />
Tom Earnhardt* was<br />
in the audience and<br />
spoke about his passion<br />
for the environment<br />
and his support of<br />
Muddy Sneakers.<br />
*Muddy Sneakers Board Member, Tom<br />
Earnhardt, is host of PBS’s Exploring<br />
North Carolina, an avid naturalist, and<br />
an attorney who pioneered<br />
environmental law in N.C.<br />
"maintaining and conserving our...natural<br />
environment is a wise and noble investment. But if<br />
we are not educating and immersing our children
In a nutshell, what he said (as I<br />
interpreted it) is that maintaining and<br />
conserving our precious and precarious<br />
natural environment is a wise and noble<br />
investment.<br />
But if we are not educating and<br />
immersing our children and<br />
grandchildren in that same love of the<br />
environment, there will be no one to<br />
carry on that work or even to enjoy what<br />
has been left to them. That resonated<br />
with me on both an emotional level and<br />
in a practical way.<br />
And so we give in the belief that young<br />
people should have a chance to get<br />
outside, to put down their electronics, to<br />
connect with the actual place where<br />
they live. Their lives will be better for it<br />
today. And North Carolina will be better<br />
for it tomorrow.<br />
and grandchildren in that same love of the<br />
environment, there will be no one to carry on that<br />
work or even to enjoy what has been left to them."
H<br />
GRATITUDE TO OUR <strong>2022</strong>-23 DONORS<br />
ere at Muddy Sneakers, we are filled with immense gratitude as we reflect on<br />
the impact of your generosity during the <strong>2022</strong>-23 fiscal year. Your unwavering<br />
support has enabled us to continue energizing learning through outdoor experiential<br />
education, where students connect with the land, become more active, and gain selfconfidence<br />
while improving their science skills.<br />
As we turn the pages of our <strong>Annual</strong> <strong>Report</strong> to the Gratitude section, we are reminded<br />
of the incredible journeys we embarked on together. Your contributions have not only<br />
provided opportunities for children to explore the natural world but have also paved<br />
the way for experiential learning that goes beyond the classroom.<br />
Your belief in our vision has allowed us to tread new paths, both metaphorically and<br />
literally. From funding expeditions to providing essential curriculum and on-call<br />
expertise for our public school teachers, your generosity has been the driving force<br />
behind our growth and success. Each dollar donated has translated into a deeper<br />
connection between young learners and the ecosystems surrounding them.<br />
With heartfelt appreciation, the entire Muddy Sneakers crew acknowledges<br />
your instrumental role in creating these transformative experiences.<br />
Your partnership has empowered us to sow the seeds<br />
of knowledge, compassion, respect for nature, and<br />
greater science aptitude in the hearts and minds of<br />
thousands of North Carolinian fifth-graders. Together,<br />
we are fostering a generation prepared to embrace the<br />
challenges of the future with a fundamental<br />
understanding of the interconnectedness of life on our<br />
planet.<br />
We extend our sincere thanks for your continued<br />
support. Your contributions are not just monetary; they<br />
are a testament to the shared belief that every child<br />
deserves the opportunity to explore, learn, and grow in<br />
the embrace of nature.<br />
Hope to see you on the trail,<br />
Jordan Robbins Michelle Leonard Matt Schneider<br />
DIRECTOR OF DEVELOPMENT<br />
12<br />
MAJOR GIFTS & LEGISLATIVE<br />
RELATIONS MANAGER<br />
DEVELOPMENT MANAGER
<strong>2022</strong>-23 COMMUNITY PARTNERS<br />
Thermo Fisher Scientific<br />
Amazon Smile<br />
Integrative Family Medicine<br />
John Dillon Insurance<br />
Lobster Dogs<br />
The Orange Peel<br />
Tim Silar, Silar Services Inc<br />
Contact us today to learn how you can "do well by doing good" with Muddy Sneakers.<br />
We want to support your marketing and corporate social responsibility priorities,<br />
while also investing in the next generation of active citizens.<br />
13
THANK YOU TO <strong>2022</strong>-23 DONORS<br />
14<br />
GRANTORS<br />
Beattie Foundation<br />
The Blanche & Julian<br />
Robertson Family Foundation<br />
Bobby Orr Memorial Fund for<br />
Transylvania County Sheriff's<br />
Department & Transylvania<br />
Endowment Fund<br />
Boone Sunrise Rotary<br />
Dogwood Health Trust<br />
Harold M. & Adeline S.<br />
Morrison Family Foundation<br />
Henri Landwirth Family<br />
Endowed Fund<br />
Lake Toxaway Charities<br />
Lastinger Family Foundation<br />
The Luke Garrison<br />
Foundation<br />
Margaret C. Woodson<br />
Foundation<br />
National Recreation<br />
Foundation<br />
Pisgah Forest Rotary Club<br />
The Robbins deBeaumont<br />
Foundation<br />
Sutherland Foundation<br />
DISTRICT SPONSORS<br />
$25,000+<br />
Wendy & Mike Brenner<br />
Amy & Michael Hough<br />
Brad & Shelli Stanback<br />
Alice & Fred Stanback<br />
SCHOOL CHAMPIONS<br />
$10,000 - $24,999<br />
Sue & Dave Corby<br />
GROUP TRAILBLAZERS<br />
$2,500 - $9,999<br />
Missie & Greg Alcorn<br />
Lucia & Stephen Bailey<br />
Tom Beroth<br />
Townsend & Hank Birdsong<br />
Anne & Grant Bullard<br />
Julie & Bob Gates<br />
Charlotte Hanes<br />
Whitney & Jay Lanier<br />
Rebecca & Ed McKee<br />
Sherry Minnich<br />
Clary & Chase Pickering<br />
Karen & Ted Ramsaur<br />
Aleen Steinberg<br />
Valerie & Robert Thompson<br />
Jinx Vidrine<br />
Anne Wilson<br />
The Huisking Foundation<br />
The Kates Foundation<br />
The Taylor Hunt Fund for<br />
Rivers & Outdoor Learning
THANK YOU TO <strong>2022</strong>-23 DONORS<br />
FOUNDERS CIRCLE<br />
$1,000 - $2,499<br />
Anna Baker<br />
Paige Dillon<br />
Daughn & David Egan<br />
Robin Hoofnagle &<br />
William Garvey<br />
Heidi Honchariw<br />
Richard Houck<br />
Kay Hunter<br />
Miranda Hunter<br />
Betsy & Don Jordan<br />
Michelle & Mike Leonard<br />
Ruthanne & Henry Lucius<br />
Rosalie & Neil Morris<br />
Grace & Salvador Patino<br />
Robert Prioleau<br />
Missy & Sam Rankin<br />
Missy & Sandy Schenck<br />
Liza B. Schillo<br />
Charles Patrick<br />
Thompson<br />
Elizabeth & Richard<br />
Wagner<br />
Lauren & Fred Weed<br />
Martha & William Young<br />
The Lunsford Richardson<br />
Preyer Charitable Lead<br />
Unitrust<br />
The Napier Family<br />
Charitable Fund<br />
The Ramsay Family Fund<br />
The Strayhorn Family<br />
Charitable Fund<br />
STUDENT MENTOR<br />
$500 - $999<br />
Anonymous<br />
Joanne Bartsch<br />
Donna & Philip Brown<br />
Jennifer & Walter<br />
Browning<br />
Gloria & Jerry Clouse<br />
Faye Goodwyn<br />
Sydney & Michael Green<br />
Geraldine & William<br />
Hambley<br />
Connie Haskell<br />
Royce Hough<br />
Morris Jenkins<br />
Dawn & Peter Johnson<br />
Beverly Leonard<br />
Cynthia Madden<br />
Mary Marshall<br />
Dwight Messinger<br />
Laurie Ombres<br />
Dini & Chuck Pickering<br />
Jacquelyn & Bruce Rogow<br />
Judy Newton Scurry<br />
Dorothy Semans<br />
Alex Sink<br />
Laurie & Tom Williams<br />
Jane Williams<br />
Virginia Williams<br />
Jan & Beattie Wood<br />
The Dan Cameron Family<br />
Foundation<br />
The Grandfather<br />
Mountain Stewardship<br />
Foundation<br />
Woodcutters of<br />
Sherwood Forest<br />
EXPEDITION GUIDE<br />
$250 - $499<br />
Jay Bolin<br />
Peg & Dan Bresnahan<br />
Donna Byce<br />
Diana Lace Davidova<br />
Taylor Ellerbee<br />
Page & Mark Ives-Lemel<br />
Anne & Christian<br />
Kaltreider<br />
Lynn & Larry Klein<br />
Liz Preyer & Morris<br />
Letsinger<br />
Amye & Marshall<br />
McCallie<br />
George McCrary<br />
Edith & Henry McHenry<br />
Mary Millis McLaughlin<br />
Carolina & Steve Moberg<br />
J. Gary Morgan<br />
Jane Lawson & John<br />
Myers<br />
Lucas Pratt<br />
Suzy & Ed Rankin<br />
Linda Vandeweghe<br />
15
THANK YOU TO <strong>2022</strong>-23 DONORS<br />
EXPEDITION KIT SPONSOR<br />
$100 - $249<br />
Anonymous<br />
Lauren & Matthew Agrella-<br />
Sevilla<br />
Antonio Almeida<br />
Ann & Thomas Anderson<br />
Fred Andrea, III<br />
Miriam & Thomas Ash-Jones<br />
Bess & Rod Baird<br />
Jenn Beck<br />
Judith & Ronald Behrman<br />
Nancy & Frank Bell<br />
Don Bieger<br />
Margaret Bowles Curme<br />
Howe<br />
Elke & Charles Burden<br />
Lucille & Peter Chaveas<br />
Suzanne & Dick Childs<br />
Beth Ann Chiles<br />
Katheryn Coff<br />
Jane & Chris Dauster<br />
Dennis Davidson<br />
Betsy Dobbins<br />
Terri & Cliff Dodson<br />
Melinda & David Engstrom<br />
Sally Evans<br />
Salvador Ferradas<br />
Nancy & James Gamble<br />
Adam Garry<br />
Ben Geer Keys<br />
Nancy & Robert Gilbert<br />
Miriam Greenberg<br />
Allison & Henry Greene<br />
Pam & Jeff Gross<br />
The Hagler Family<br />
Foundation Inc.<br />
Debra & Edward<br />
Heimerdinger<br />
Kristen Hodges<br />
Renee & Tom Hudson<br />
Jennifer Hudson<br />
Susan & Trenholm Hull-<br />
Walker<br />
Cathy & Mark Janney<br />
Anne & Larry Jennings<br />
Randy Jones<br />
William Jordan<br />
Cookie & Jim Kellett<br />
Nancy & Russell Knights<br />
Janice Leonard<br />
Donna Longhouse<br />
Paddy Lynch<br />
Nancy & Erwin Maddrey<br />
Margaret & Harrison<br />
Marshall<br />
Katie & Sumner McCallie<br />
Palmer McIntyre<br />
Laura Kaufman & Wayne<br />
Moore<br />
Ann Wallace & Bill Nichols<br />
Mackenzie Ombres<br />
Sarah Oram<br />
Joel Osgood<br />
Joe Poston<br />
Steve Price<br />
Gale & Jinks Ramsey<br />
Jordan & Bradley Robbins<br />
Mary Rosser<br />
Joyce & Bill Spencer<br />
R. David Sprinkle<br />
Kim & Wyatt Stevens<br />
Amolia Willowsong & Steve<br />
Supreme<br />
Elise Tellez<br />
Inez & Sam Tenenbaum<br />
Michael Thompson<br />
Kellon Tippett<br />
Kathryn Unser<br />
Joan VanOrman<br />
Tracy & Jason Walser<br />
Susan Ward<br />
Gail & Kent Wilcox<br />
Frances Worthy<br />
16
M<br />
MANY PATHWAYS TO GIVING<br />
uddy Sneakers is made possible through heartfelt gifts from foundations,<br />
corporations, and individuals like yourself. Now more than ever, we are<br />
committed to building a community that believes all children deserve meaningful<br />
connections with the natural world at a formative age.<br />
We welcome all giving pathways, including volunteering! To discuss the right path<br />
for you, or to receive instructions for giving through securities, please contact our<br />
Development Director, Jordan Robbins at 828-862-5560.<br />
Give A Check By Mail<br />
Muddy Sneakers<br />
P.O. Box 146<br />
Brevard, NC 28712<br />
Give Online<br />
Secure donations can be<br />
made at<br />
www.muddysneakers.org.<br />
Recurring Giving<br />
Please consider setting up a<br />
monthly or quarterly draft to<br />
automatically support Muddy<br />
Sneakers on an ongoing basis.<br />
Business Donations &<br />
Employer Match<br />
We work with small<br />
businesses and local<br />
corporations, providing<br />
exposure for doing well by<br />
doing good. Also, don’t forget<br />
to check if your employer<br />
matches employee donations.<br />
This can increase your giving<br />
manyfold!<br />
Give a Gift in Honor of a<br />
Loved One<br />
A donation to Muddy<br />
Sneakers makes a great gift to<br />
anyone who values a<br />
childhood connection to<br />
nature.<br />
Make a Gift of Stock<br />
If you have appreciated<br />
stocks, it is easy to make a gift<br />
to us and receive favorable<br />
tax treatment. For example, a<br />
donor who gives a gift of<br />
common stock held longer<br />
than one year avoids capital<br />
gains taxation on the transfer,<br />
so the full value of the<br />
contribution goes to Muddy<br />
Sneakers.<br />
Donate Through Your IRA<br />
If you are 70 ½ or older, you<br />
may be interested in lowering<br />
your IRA withdrawals’ income<br />
and taxes. Through an IRA<br />
Charitable Rollover, you can<br />
transfer up to $100,000 a<br />
year directly from your IRA to<br />
Muddy Sneakers. The transfer<br />
amount will not be included in<br />
your taxable income, and can<br />
count towards your required<br />
minimum distribution.<br />
Use Your Donor Advised<br />
Fund to Give<br />
Please contact the<br />
organization that holds your<br />
Donor Advised Fund (DAF) to<br />
discuss minimum<br />
contributions and<br />
recommend grants.<br />
Leave a Legacy<br />
Invest in a generation<br />
connected to the natural<br />
resources in their community.<br />
Legacy donors fund students’<br />
direct experience and invest<br />
in the cultivation of stewards<br />
who will care for the<br />
incredible resources that<br />
define their region. There is no<br />
better example of legacy<br />
giving. We welcome the<br />
opportunity to think through<br />
ways in which you can use<br />
your estate as a tool to ensure<br />
the Muddy Sneakers<br />
experience will continue to<br />
impact children well into the<br />
future.<br />
Gifts of Real Property<br />
Muddy Sneakers is open to<br />
accepting real property gifts<br />
that provide an opportunity to<br />
serve an immediate need or<br />
are marketable and can be<br />
sold to benefit the<br />
organization.<br />
17
BOARD OF DIRECTORS, PIEDMONT<br />
ADVISORY COUNCIL & STAFF<br />
- CURRENT YEAR '23 - '24<br />
BOARD OF DIRECTORS<br />
Betsy Jordan, Chair<br />
Former Attorney<br />
Jay Lanier, Vice Chair<br />
Key Account Director,<br />
Interface<br />
Ben Walters,<br />
Treasurer<br />
CPA/Senior<br />
Manager/Tax, Forvis<br />
Anne Bullard,<br />
Secretary<br />
Owner and Director,<br />
Gwynn Valley Camp<br />
Tom Earnhardt<br />
Conservationist,<br />
Attorney, Writer &<br />
Producer, Exploring<br />
North Carolina<br />
Tim Harper<br />
IT Manager, Simple<br />
Technology Solutions<br />
Richard Houck<br />
Retired Rear Admiral,<br />
U.S. Coast Guard<br />
Morris Jenkins, MD<br />
Retired Medical<br />
Director & Palliative<br />
Medicine Physician,<br />
Care Partners<br />
Transylvania Hospice<br />
Chase Pickering<br />
Vice President,<br />
Biltmore House<br />
Guest Experience &<br />
Operations at<br />
Biltmore<br />
Robert Prioleau<br />
Founding Partner,<br />
Blue Ion<br />
Kristina Proctor<br />
Founder,<br />
Neurodivergent<br />
Ventures, ADHD<br />
Coach/<br />
Communications<br />
Professional<br />
Missy Rankin<br />
Conservationist &<br />
Community Leader<br />
Emeritus Board<br />
Members<br />
Gloria Clouse<br />
Former Elementary<br />
School Principal<br />
Chuck McGrady<br />
Former State<br />
Representative,<br />
Henderson County<br />
Sandy Schenck<br />
Executive Director,<br />
Green River Preserve<br />
Camp<br />
Aleen Steinberg,<br />
(1930 - <strong>2023</strong>)<br />
Conservationist and<br />
Community Leader<br />
18
PIEDMONT ADVISORY COUNCIL<br />
Dr. Jay Bolin, Chair<br />
Dean of Sciences & Director<br />
of the Fred Stanback, Jr.<br />
Ecological Preserve at<br />
Catawba College<br />
Jason Walser<br />
Executive Director, The<br />
Blanche & Julian Robertson<br />
Foundation<br />
Chris Cagle<br />
Owner, Eldorado Outpost<br />
Don Martin<br />
Chairman, Forsyth County<br />
Board of Commissioners<br />
Palmer McIntyre<br />
Conservation Planner,<br />
Piedmont Land<br />
Conservancy<br />
Savannah Heath<br />
Economic Development<br />
Director, Montgomery County<br />
Lane Wallace<br />
Chief Investment Officer,<br />
Sumter Investments<br />
STAFF<br />
Management Team<br />
David Rahahe:tih Webb<br />
Executive Director<br />
Cody Bliss<br />
Director of Programs<br />
Erica Brown<br />
Director of Communications<br />
Jordan Robbins<br />
Director of Development<br />
Chehala Andriananjason<br />
Program Manager<br />
Harrison Jackson<br />
Program Manager<br />
Shannon Lally<br />
Program Manager<br />
Hannah Latragna<br />
Administrative Manager<br />
Michelle Leonard<br />
Major Gifts & Legislative Manager<br />
Cynthia Peedin<br />
Education Manager<br />
Matt Schneider<br />
Development Manager<br />
Field Instructor Team<br />
Core Instructors<br />
Lead Instructors<br />
Field Instructors<br />
Field Instructors (cont.)<br />
Chelsea Bryne<br />
Than Axtell<br />
Matt Bedeaux<br />
Scuba Keiser<br />
Deborah Davis<br />
Carlton Burke<br />
Dan Chase<br />
Megan Krintz<br />
Annie Dillon<br />
Lucy B. Carte<br />
David Davis<br />
Kimberly<br />
Jasmine Eshkar<br />
KC Collins<br />
Cindy Furey<br />
Lanzarotta<br />
Stephanie Francis<br />
Leslie Prescott<br />
Jonathan Gray<br />
Molly Larmie<br />
Miranda Norlin<br />
Lindsey Sterrett<br />
Kai Temple<br />
Cindy Ramsay<br />
Assistant Education<br />
Manager<br />
Julie Thomson<br />
Henry Hough<br />
Kelley Hughes<br />
Kendall Jordan<br />
Connor Mathias<br />
Substitute Instructor<br />
19
THE PATH FORWARD<br />
A LETTER FROM OUR<br />
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR<br />
Dear Friends,<br />
Over the past year at Muddy<br />
Sneakers, I have felt a myriad of<br />
sentiments. I am humbled by the<br />
opportunity to lead the incredible<br />
Muddy Sneakers along the path<br />
forward. Conversely, I have felt great<br />
pride in joining such a remarkably<br />
qualified, talented, and dedicated<br />
team, with equally dedicated<br />
supporters like you.<br />
As we embark on the path forward, I cannot help but feel a sense of gratitude<br />
for all the work that has been done to propel Muddy Sneakers to this point on<br />
the path. Our outdoor classroom model has reached over 30,000 students<br />
and teachers across North Carolina. Wow, what an impact!<br />
We are fortunate to have such dedicated friends and supporters. Muddy<br />
Sneakers' growth has enabled us to connect more students to nature and<br />
science than ever before. With our programs reaching 4,239 students in 63<br />
schools with a waiting list, this will be our biggest year yet. Such success<br />
requires us to pause and assess this moment - where we are and where we<br />
want to go.<br />
With the support of our committed board, we have implemented a two-year<br />
plan that will evolve our operations and build a foundation of infrastructure to<br />
accommodate our growth across the state while meeting our school partners’<br />
needs. This includes enhanced financial forecasting and data-informed<br />
decisions to enable our success and the ability of Muddy Sneakers to impact<br />
our state in perpetuity.<br />
20
As we elevate our systems to respond to our waiting list, we remain focused<br />
on closing opportunity, achievement, and nature gaps with our public school<br />
partners. As always, via our work with third-party research partners at N.C.<br />
State University and some additional teacher and school administrator focus<br />
groups, we worked this year to better understand current school, teacher, and<br />
student needs.<br />
Our team is responding by supporting educators as the new NC Essential<br />
Science Standards begin to roll out this year and in 2024 -25. In addition,<br />
we’re working to be a key partner in student and teacher engagement postpandemic<br />
by emboldening research-based practices that are known to<br />
enhance children’s social-emotional development while engaging with<br />
nature. We will continue to measure our impacts and gain new<br />
understandings of the true difference we are making together.<br />
Your ongoing dedication and support for Muddy Sneakers and our mission<br />
have brought us to this point. We continue to wonder what our state would<br />
look like if every child completed their public education experience with a<br />
formative connection to nature. With your continued support, Muddy<br />
Sneakers is poised to prove a case for this vital education, preparing them to<br />
become active and engaged 21st Century citizens! I hope you all will continue<br />
to join us in our dedication to our mission, schools, and the natural world as<br />
we ensure more N.C. children form an affinity for nature!<br />
With my sincere gratitude for your partnership with Muddy Sneakers,<br />
David Rahahę:tih Webb<br />
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR<br />
21
Muddy Sneakers is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.<br />
For more information about making a gift or getting<br />
involved, please contact us today.<br />
BREVARD:<br />
828-862-5560<br />
P.O. Box 146, Brevard, NC 28712<br />
212 S. Broad St. Suite B, Brevard, NC 28712<br />
SALISBURY:<br />
704-209-4009<br />
P.O. Box 2151, Salisbury, NC 28144<br />
2300 W Innes St., Salisbury, NC 28144<br />
www.muddysneakers.org · info@muddysneakers.org
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