[Mendon Foundation Logo]

January, 2025

Dear Friends,

With the holiday season just past, we at the Mendon Foundation want to express our heartfelt gratitude for your continued support, which makes our work possible. Our mission is to nurture and protect the rich natural open spaces in the Mendon, Honeoye Falls, and Rush communities while fostering opportunities for education and recreation. Our organization relies on the generosity of friends like you to keep this mission vibrant and thriving.

We are 100% volunteer-run, consisting of an incredible team that devotes time, expertise, and energy to maintaining and enhancing over 160 acres of green space and nearly 16 miles of the Lehigh Valley Trail. Their work not only conserves our beautiful landscapes but also makes Mendon, Honeoye Falls, and Rush some of the most desirable places to live in Monroe County.

Highlights of 2024 Achievements

In 2024, thanks to your support, we achieved many exciting milestones. Here are a few highlights:

  • The Black Diamond Express Trail Races: A cherished annual event and one of our key fundraisers, the Black Diamond Express Trail Races continue to bring our community together to celebrate the scenic beauty of the Lehigh Valley Trail. We’re excited to expand this event in 2025, sharing the trail with even more people and raising critical funds for our mission.
  • BirdWalk Series: Our BirdWalk Series has grown, bringing residents of all ages closer to nature, fostering appreciation for local wildlife, and supporting conservation through education.
  • Public Land Trust Spaces: In 2024, we expanded efforts across six protected properties, moving beyond basic maintenance to create new trails, improve accessibility and enhance signage. These public spaces are now even more inviting, and we hope you’ll enjoy them as much as we enjoy nurturing and cultivating them!

These efforts require supplies, equipment, and countless volunteer hours. We’re deeply grateful for every volunteer who rolls up their sleeves to plant, build, and maintain the spaces we all cherish.

Your Support Can Make 2025 Our Best Year Yet!
We’re eager to accomplish even more in the coming year, and your financial support is vital. Every dollar you give goes directly toward our operating costs—funding essential items like insurance, equipment maintenance, fuel, and supplies needed for preservation and volunteer efforts.

Would you like to make an even greater impact? Join us—new volunteers are always welcome! Whether you serve as a director, taking a hands-on role in guiding our efforts, or as a part-time volunteer, there are plenty of ways to make a difference. Help plant flowers, support special events, maintain our trails, or share your skills in whatever area speaks to you. Our volunteers find not only purpose but also a great community and a lot of fun!

If you’d like more information on volunteering, please email me directly at president@mendon

foundation.org—I’d love to connect with you.

Let’s Preserve Our Beautiful Communities Together
Thank you for supporting the Mendon Foundation—whether financially, through volunteer hours, or by donating materials. Your generosity directly impacts our community, ensuring the Mendon, Honeoye Falls, and Rush areas remain beautiful, green, and welcoming.

To make your tax-deductible donation, mail it along with the enclosed form to PO Box 231, Mendon, NY 14506, or conveniently donate online through our portal on the Mendon Foundation website, mendonfoundation.org.

Let’s work together to keep our communities green and growing for generations to come!

Warm regards,

Fran
Francis Celona

Your Board of Directors:
Francis Celona, President
Bud Grindle, Vice President
John Farrell, Treasurer, Past President & Lehigh Valley Trail Operations Manager
Diane Ham, Secretary
Rodney Ham, Director & Rochester Junction Coordinator
Bonnie Coddington, Director & Volunteer Coordinator for Events
Bradley Carlson, Public Land Trust Spaces Director & Scout Liaison
Dina Ergood, Communications Director & Social Media Coordinator