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High definition photos available at
http://www.echovermont.org/visitors/photos.html?gallery=littlefund#photos
“THE LITTLE
FUND” DRIVES ECHO’S NEXT PHASE OF GROWTH
U.S. Senator Patrick Leahy and Lois
McClure Announce Major Support and Plans
BURLINGTON, Vt. — ECHO Lake Aquarium and Science Center,
at the Leahy Center for Lake Champlain, today welcomed
U.S. Senator Patrick Leahy, philanthropist Lois McClure,
and other dignitaries, donors and supporters, for the
launch of The Little Fund: Honoring George E. Little’s
Vision for ECHO’s Strategic Innovation and Growth. This
comprehensive fundraising initiative will spawn capital
improvements, new exhibits, and interactive spaces
critical to ECHO’s mission.
- Senator Patrick Leahy delivered news of strong
initial support for The Little Fund, through a
$476,000 grant from the U.S. Department of
Education.
- Local philanthropist Lois McClure announced her
endowment pledge to the Fund of $500,000.
- Little’s Burlington High School’s Class of 1939
presented their generous gift to the Fund, collected
by classmates in honor of their 70th high school
reunion.
- ECHO’s Board of Directors revealed that $1.5
million has been raised to date, with 100% Board
participation in this effort.
ECHO’s growth through the Little Fund will take
shape in a variety of ways: new Lake Science
Teaching Labs; reconstruction of the Discovery Place
for our pre-school visitors; expansion of programs
to reach underserved populations and elementary
school students; and significant support to a
project very close to Little’s heart:
Voices for the Lake — inspiring Basin
stewardship through social media. The Little Fund
also includes support for ECHO’s Annual Fund;
expenses for future building expansion; and,
importantly, an initiative to support ECHO’s
endowment.
When the idea for creating a lake aquarium and
science center in Burlington was conceived more than
a decade ago, the vision of one man, George E.
Little, Jr., was at the heart of ECHO’s mission to
“…educate and delight visitors about the Ecology,
Culture, History and Opportunity for stewardship of
the Lake Champlain Basin.” Now his dream has taken
flight, through The Little Fund. To learn more
about ECHO visit
www.echovermont.org. To make a donation to The
Little Fund, or for further information, please
contact ECHO’s Director of Development Kate Villa,
at
kvilla@echovermont.org and 1.877.324.6386 ext.
118. # # # ECHO Lake
Aquarium and Science Center is located at the Leahy
Center for Lake Champlain, on Vermont’s Burlington
Waterfront. ECHO features 70 live species, more than
100 interactive experiences, changing and permanent
exhibits and seasonal events — all exploring the
Ecology, Culture, History, and
Opportunity for stewardship of the Lake
Champlain Basin. The 2.2 acre Leahy Center
environmental campus is also highlighted by the Lake
Champlain Basin Program Resource Room, UVM’s
Rubenstein Ecosystem Science Laboratory, Lake
Champlain Navy Memorial, ECHO’s Eclectic Gift Shop,
and ecology-themed Think! Café. Open year-round, 10
a.m.-5 p.m.; closed Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve &
Day. For more information visit echovermont.org,
call 1.877.324.6386, or write to ECHO Lake Aquarium
and Science Center, Leahy Center for Lake Champlain,
One College Street, Burlington, VT 05401.
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1.802.864.1848
