Avery Siler, Legacy Society member and past KLT intern
Before my internships with KLT, I had never been to Maine. Once I arrived, it didn’t take me long to understand why people love it so much – there’s something about it that just gets into your soul. I was lucky enough to see a fair bit of the state in my two summers at KLT, from Cutler Coast to Katahdin to the Bigelows, but I’m very glad that I was rooted in Kennebec County. Its hills and lakes, its forests and fields, all became a home to me. I can’t think of a better guardian of that home than KLT.
At a time when I was just beginning to consider what a career in conservation could look like, KLT shaped my idea of what conservation could and should be: a land ethic marked by a consideration of the whole system within which humans interact with the environment, and a dedication not only to land, but to people and cultural heritage. KLT’s work goes beyond just setting aside natural places to considering how conservation can be a tool to help communities of both the ecological and the human varieties. I’m consistently impressed by the creativity KLT’s staff and volunteers bring to their work, whether it’s creating the Local Wood WORKS initiative or restoring the blueberry fields on Mt. Pisgah.
As a young person working in a non-profit, I don’t have huge financial resources at my disposal, but I wanted to be able to make a meaningful gift to KLT and help ensure support for years to come. I made KLT a beneficiary of my 401(k), a step that enabled me to plan a larger gift than I could currently give otherwise. It was simple to name a beneficiary through my online account. There’s also the added benefit that because KLT is a 501(c)(3), the gift won’t be subject to the estate tax. I’m so grateful for KLT, and I’m thrilled to be able to support it.
For more information about our Legacy Society please click here.