THANK YOU NEW HAMPSHIRE!

Thanks to the generosity of more than 1,500 donors, the Forest Society is pleased to report that we have raised the $850,000 needed to conserve the landscape surrounding the historic Balsams Grand Resort Hotel in Dixville Notch. The fundraising deadline was Jan. 15.

"Given what a special place Dixville Notch is, we felt from the start that people would respond to our call to conserve it," said Jane Difley, president/forester of the Forest Society. "But to be honest we had no inkling that the public interest is protecting these 5,800 acres would be so strong. We've had so many emails and calls from people offering to help any way they could. I can't thank everyone enough, including the Tillotson Corporation for choosing to work with us to conserve the land. We believe, as they do, that this outcome is in the best interests of the North Country and, indeed, all of New Hampshire."

Interest in the Balsams conservation project ballooned when Northern Pass, LLC, attempted to interfere with the transaction, arguing that siting its proposed private, commercial HVDC overhead transmission line project was a better fit.

The 1500-plus gifts ranged from a few dollars to $150,000. The number of gifts is greater by far than any other conservation project in modern Forest Society history.

"Based on the notes and comments we've received along with donations, it's evident that many people saw the Balsams landscape campaign as a referendum on Northern Pass," Difley said. "Our success is one more strong statement by those who understand the true value of New Hampshire's forested landscape: the proposed Northern Pass transmission line is not wanted and offers little or no benefit to the state."

Forest Society staff and its attorneys are working on the paperwork required to complete the transaction within the next week.

Save the Balsams Gifts Continue to Flow: 1300 Donors, $817,000

With 48 hours left before the deadline in the Save the Balsams Landscape campaign, more than 1,300 donors have expressed their desire to see the forests surrounding the historic Dixville Notch protected by making gifts small and large. We at the Forest Society are humbled by so much generosity and so many good wishes. We asked others to help us get the word out about the opportunity to protect this iconic landscape and everyone has continued to do so. Thank you.

And it is working. We have raised $817,000 toward our $850,000 goal. This latest total includes a generous $25,000 gift that was confirmed today, leaving $33,000 to go by Sunday, Jan. 15. For those still interested in making a donation to the Balsams campaign, you can do so via our website (click the Donate Now button to the right of this post) or by sending a check to Forest Society, 54 Portsmouth St., Concord, NH  03801 (just mark "Balsams campaign" on the check).

More than 1,100 Gifts Bring Total to $778,000 with Just Days Left

To date we've received more than 1,100 donations totalling $778,000 to help conserve the 5,800 acres surrounding the historic Balsams Grand Resort Hotel, making it the most supported land protection project in recent Forest Society history. It tells us that New Hampshire loves the Balsams and New Hampshire loves Dixville Notch.

Donations of all sizes continue to roll in via the web (click on Donate Now to the right of this post), via phone (603-224-9945) and even in person. If the pace of giving continues as it has been, we are optimistic that we will reach the $850,000 we need to conserve the land.