TOWNSEND, TN. — On Giving Tuesday, November 29, Great Smoky Mountains Institute at Tremont received over $72,000 in donations from regional community members to support their mission of connecting people with nature. This surpassed the organization’s previous Giving Tuesday record by nearly $20,000.

“We are honored and humbled by the response from our community,” said President & CEO Catey McClary. “These gifts affirm that the work we do each day makes a difference in people’s lives. When we see both $10 and $10,000 donations coming in together, it shows us that we are reaching a wide network of supporters, and that matters to us.”

Tremont Institute is a nonprofit residential environmental education center located inside Great Smoky Mountains National Park. For over 50 years, Tremont has invited youth and adults to their campus for immersive, multi-day experiences designed to connect people and nature. In the last year, they have welcomed over 3,000 individuals to their programs on campus.

Donations will support Tremont’s new GO Fund, which supports all of the areas of Tremont’s work. Funds may be used to provide financial assistance for campers and school groups, tools and materials to keep facilities safe and clean, nutritious meals for guests, training and development for staff, and much more.

“The whole day was a celebration,” said Development Manager Megan Womack, who hosted live streams on Tremont’s social media pages from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. “We wanted people to feel like they were back at Tremont appreciating the wonder of nature and enjoying the amazing community around them.”

Though the mood was festive, a lot of planning went into making the day a success. Prior to the event, Womack secured $25,000 in matching funds from a couple of anonymous local donors, and the organization strategically encouraged annual donors to make their gifts on Giving Tuesday to leverage the matches and drive momentum.

Over 110 individuals gave to Tremont on Giving Tuesday, with donations ranging from $5 to $10,000.

“Every donation is appreciated,” said McClary. “Each gift is a reminder that the work we do at Tremont sticks. When we help connect people with nature, the effects are positive and long-lasting.”

To learn more about Tremont and support their work, visit gsmit.org/donate.

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Great Smoky Mountains Institute at Tremont provides in-depth experiences through educational programs that celebrate ecological and cultural diversity, foster stewardship, and nurture appreciation of Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Learn more at www.gsmit.org.

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 30, 2022

Contact:
Erin Rosolina, Tremont Institute
(865) 448-6709, [email protected]