Volunteer of the year leaves a gift to WRV

“WRV has saved my life repeatedly,” says long-time volunteer Liz Kellogg. “At rough times, WRV projects have been a healing experience.  Being around volunteers and staff with a similar passion for the wilderness has been a source of strength and joy.  Getting my hands in the dirt contributes to my healing process.”

Liz is a retired molecular biologist who has volunteered on approximately 350 WRV projects since about 2008 and has served as a WRV crew leader since 2010.  She first heard about WRV from a work colleague in the early 2000s, and later signed up for her first project. She has been dedicated and “hooked” ever since.  She has earned multiple volunteer awards from WRV, including Volunteer of the Year (2015).  In addition, Boulder County Parks and Open Space, which she has volunteered with since the early 2000s, named her their Volunteer of the Year in 2021.

Liz grew up in the New York City metropolitan area, and as a youngster, her love of the outdoors was germinated.  Family hiking trips in Bear Mountain State Park and the Catskills and lengthy ocean sailing trips cultivated her respect for the outdoors and its effects upon her.  Upon moving to Colorado 52 years ago, her experiences hiking mountains immediately became her source of joy.

“WRV is my family,” says Liz, who recently updated her will to include a legacy gift to WRV. “I wish to leave a part of myself to WRV so it can continue its mission of healing the land and building its nurturing community.  Because I have spent much time outdoors, I wish to give back to nature, which has given me so much.”

“With significant, not-so-good changes to our earth coming in the form of climate change, the mission of WRV becomes ever more relevant and vital.  By leaving the gift, I hope it will assist the future work and existence of WRV.  I feel very fortunate to have the resources to leave this gift to WRV.”

If you want to join dedicated volunteers like Liz and leave a git to WRV in your will, trust, life insurance, retirement plan, or another account, please get in touch with Director of Development Sarah Egolf-Tarr at sarah@wrv.org or phone: 303-543-1411, ext. 108.