PRESS RELEASE: For Immediate Release

For more information, contact:
Erin Marteal, Development Director
Ithaca Children’s Garden
Email: giving@ithacachildrensgarden.org
Phone: (607) 319-4203

Ithaca Children’s Garden Launches $55,000 Scholarship Campaign with Matching Gift to support 100+ Local Families

ITHACA, NY— March 30, 2026 —

Ithaca Children’s Garden (ICG) will launch its annual Scholarship Fund Campaign on April 1, aiming to raise $55,000 to provide nature-based program access for more than 100 local families. The campaign includes a $27,500 matching gift that doubles every gift through April 30. 

“Every child who attends programs at Ithaca Children’s Garden has a chance to form a relationship — with peers, caregivers, and the natural world,” says Kelsey Brewster, ICG’s Education Director. “The Scholarship Fund Campaign supports all families in accessing these opportunities, regardless of their financial situation. I have had the pleasure of witnessing friendship blossom, and children plant seeds and care for the sprouts that emerge. Without these scholarships, many children would not have had a chance to make these connections.”

ICG’s Scholarship Fund ensures that children from all economic backgrounds can benefit from nature-based education and play. 

“Because of ICG’s scholarship program, my child has received the best preschool education I could have imagined for her,” said Marina, an ICG parent. “She has made friendships with her educators that she will never forget. As a first-time parent, worried about my child’s entry into the educational system and how she would be received, it warmed my heart to learn that her teachers really loved her. They understood her so well and were there to guide, inspire, and build her confidence.”

This year, ICG is offering an opportunity for donors to maximize their impact. Thanks to a generous $27,500 matching gift, every dollar given by April 30 will be doubled. 

Every gift is an investment in a child’s future. Parents consistently report that ICG ignites a love for gardening and a deep respect for nature and enhances confidence, social skills, and life skills.

“During her time with the Playful Nature Explorers program, my daughter’s language skills blossomed,” shared Stephanie, another ICG parent. “She has gained the confidence to communicate her boundaries to children and adults alike. She has learned how to play with other children and how to negotiate different personalities and, with consistent support from the PNE coordinators, temper her own responses to dissatisfaction. She is learning how to be independent and communicate when she needs help.”

ICG invites the community to help plant the seeds for a lifetime of nature connection by making a scholarship gift today. Gifts can be made at: https://ithacachildrensgarden.app.neoncrm.com/campaigns/228

For more information about the ICG Scholarship Fund or giving, visit the ICG website, or contact ICG’s Development Director, Erin Marteal, at giving@ithacachildrensgarden.org or (607) 319-4203

About Ithaca Children’s Garden:

Ithaca Children’s Garden is a three-acre public children’s garden located on the Cayuga Waterfront Trail. With a mission to inspire and connect children to nature, the Garden offers dynamic programs and welcoming spaces for children of all ages to learn, grow, and play.

As a nonprofit organization, ICG depends on the support of the community to provide children with opportunities to connect with nature, nurturing the next generation of environmental stewards. Please consider supporting ICG’s mission by visiting https://www.ithacachildrensgarden.org/support/

For more information, please visit: https://www.ithacachildrensgarden.org/

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