W
e often seek private funding for library programming and are delighted when we find sponsors whose mission matches ours. Such is the case in support for two library initiatives related to the environment: The Princeton Environmental Film Festival and an effort to promote sustainable gardening. Usually, the most visible result of these partnerships are logos on promotional materials for these events. Less often do you get to see or hear the people behind the logos. So with PEFF coming later this month and gardening season to follow soon after, we thought we’d ask our sponsors in their own words why they chose to support these initiatives.
22 I CONNECTIONS
VOICES OF PRINCETON ENVIRONMENTAL FILM FESTIVAL
The Nature Conservancy has been working in New Jersey for decades, helping to keep our drinking water clean, using nature to protect our coastal towns, and conserving priority lands, with a science-driven and collaborative approach. We know how critical it is for people to understand that we are all an integral part of nature, and that the future of people, wildlife and the planet depends on the health of our environment. The Princeton Environmental Film Festival does a wonderful job of reaching New Jerseyans in an accessible way with this message through its beautifully curated selection of films. We are pleased and excited to sponsor such an important and unique event. — Dr. Barbara Brummer, New Jersey State Director, The Nature Conservancy
The Church & Dwight Employee Giving Fund (EGF) is proud to be supporting the Princeton Environmental Film Festival for the seventh year in a row. The PEFF represents a perfect event for the hundreds of employees that give to the EGF… it is run by a hometown organization and it has both an important purpose and opportunities for employee engagement. Beyond that, however, the PEFF and the principles it espouses are directly related to and can be impacted by the jobs our employees do every day. I believe this creates an even stronger connection to the organization. The PEFF has an incredible track record, bringing in many thought-provoking, raw, and top environmental films from around the globe. The employees at C&D thank you for your continued drive to increase environmental awareness, change behavior, and wish the PEFF continued success. — Matthew Wasserman, Director, Global Product & Portfolio Stewardship, Church & Dwight Co., Inc.
For The Friends of the Princeton Public Library, the most important aspect of the festival is that it has allowed the library to remain at the cutting edge of environmental literacy in the nation while sparking an interest to move forward with a broader sustainability plan for the library. In the long term, the festival will be regarded as the first step in the creation of new sustainability programs for the library and the Princeton community. Stay tuned! We want to use this opportunity to thank all of the library staff and community members whose hard work, under the leardership of Susan Conlon and Kim Dorman, has made this festival highly successful and well-regarded. — Yamile Slebi, Friends of the Princeton Public Library