The team at Bob Jones Nature Center isbrexcited to announce its annual fundraiser, NaturallybrSweet on Saturday, November 1, 2014 from 7 to 10 p.m. This magicalbrevening on the grounds of the Nature Center features live music, a silentbrauction, and the most wonderful tastings from area restaurants... all under the stars. We are especiallybrexcited to announce that Michael Young, the former TexasbrRangers’ infielder and his lovely wife, Cristina Barbosa have agreed to bebrthis year’s honorary co-chairs for Naturally Sweet. The Youngs are well knownbrfor their advocacy and support of programs that improve children’s health. Onebrof the Nature Center’s top goals is to restore active play and learning inbrnature leading to healthy children who also gain a better understanding of ourbrnatural world.
The monies raised from this year's event willbrbe used to help build the $100,000 pollinator garden planned for the NaturebrCenter in 2015. This unique garden will serve as one more outdoor learningbropportunity for our classes. The garden will be a living interactive classroombrwhere children will be able to learn about the roles of plants, pollinators,brand other wildlife in sustainable ecosystems.
The Bob Jones Nature Center is a 501(c)3brnonprofit organization in partnership with the City of Southlake. In 2012, thebr501(c)3 organization negotiated a contract with the City of Southlake to managebrthe Nature Center and organize and oversee the classes and activities availablebrto the public. Debra Edmondson has beenbrthe President of the Board of Directors since 2009. Under her direction, thebrNature Center's total annual income has grown from around $30,000 in 2009 to abrpredicted $300,000 by the end of 2014. The remaining board members includebrSouthlake's Deputy Mayor Pro tem Brandon Bledsoe, Dr. David Faltys, Carroll ISDbrsuperintendent, Al Zito, former Southlake City councilman, Buddy Luce, formerbrCarroll ISD School Board president, Jane Musser, Bruce Rosenstiel, Simon Rurka,brWanda Schafer, Julie Landesberg, Norm Lyons, Randy McCauley, Audra Lewandowski,brJessica Heintz and Ben Siebach. Dr. Ray Chancellor was recently named abrdirector emeritus.
The history ofbrthe Nature Center is part of what makes it so special. The City of Southlake'sbrBob Jones Park and the Bob Jones Nature Center and Preserve are named afterbrJohn Dolford "Bob" Jones, the son of Leaser Alvis Jones and hisbrslave, Elizabeth. A slave himself, Bob was a sheepherder on his father's farmbreast of Roanoke, Texas. After the Civil War, Bob, his brother, and his motherbrwere set free and bought the 60-acre farm. Over time, Bob and his wife, AlmeadybrChisum, and their ten children expanded the farm until they owned almost 2,000bracres. In the 1990s, the City of Southlake launched an initiative to purchasebrland for a park. The property acquired included some of Bob and Almeady Jones'broriginal farm, so the City Council decided unanimously to honor his family'sbrmemory by naming the park land Bob Jones Park. One of Bob Jones grandsons, Dr.brBobby Jones, was the first individual to be named as a director emeritus of thebrBob Jones Nature Center.
The NaturebrCenter covers over 700 acres of forest, wetlands and prairie in which 300brspecies of wildlife make their home. ThebrCenter offers a variety of educational programs for nature lovers of allbrages. The Nature Center offers classes,brcrafts, nature hikes, day camps and many other activities for the localbrcommunity. BJNC Members enjoy special discounts and members' only events. Forbrmore information, visit the website: www.bjnc.org. You can also find where tobrpurchase tickets for Naturally Sweet at www.bjnc.org/naturallysweet. Save $10 if you pay online before the event.
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