Since we began creating nature-inspired art and gifts as Blue Aster Studio, supporting conservation and wildlife causes has been one of our main goals. We continue to be so grateful that with your support, we've been able to do exactly that every year.
In 2024, we continued our support of the Monarch Joint Venture, with a portion of every monarch butterfly design in our shop going right to them. Thanks to your purchases, we donated $205 to support the joint venture's efforts at protecting monarch butterflies and their habitat.
Since 2022, we have funded a scholarship for first-time attendees to the National Wildlife Rehabilitators Association Symposium. We were so happy to meet Milan, the 2024 recipient, in Omaha. Please do help spread the word about the annual scholarship, which opens for applications each autumn. If you know an early career wildlife rehabber, send the link their way! And if you are one, go ahead and apply!
We have continued to support local conservation efforts by giving to organizations who not only advocate for sound environmental policy but do the work to restore and protect lands. We gave $204 to MC-IRIS (Monroe County Identify and Reduce Invasive Species), and $100 to the Indiana Native Plant Society.
Additionally, we donated artwork and other products to fundraisers and events held by the following organizations:
- PA Ladies Falconry Meet
- South Florida Wildlife Center
- Tennessee Environmental Education Association
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Wisconsin Wildlife Rehabilitation Association
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Ohio Wildlife Rehabilitation Association
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Indiana Native Plant Society 2024 Plant Auction
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Tamarack Wildlife Rescue
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Avian Conservation Center of Appalachia
- Indiana Dunes Birding Festival Marketplace Auction
This year, we also spent some time volunteering with a small group of people to beautify the landscaping at Bloomington's animal shelter (as seen in this post's header image). Jennie has been volunteering there once or twice a week for the last few years, and felt that the neglected landscaping needed an upgrade so the dedicated staff and her fellow volunteers could have something beautiful to enjoy. She enlisted nursery owner and garden designer Radovan Hajek of US Perennials to design a garden and organize its preparation, planting and maintenance. Under his guidance, the space has been transformed to have year-round interest and value for pollinators and other wildlife.
We are so grateful to all of our customers for helping us support so many organizations over the last five years. You can also check out our roundup of charitable giving in 2019, our charitable giving in 2020, our charitable giving in 2021, our charitable giving in 2022, and our charitable giving in 2023.