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

Earth Day Gift Match Will Triple Support for Local Children at Ithaca Children’s Garden

ITHACA, NY— April 15, 2026 — This Earth Day, Ithaca Children’s Garden (ICG) is offering a powerful opportunity to make a lasting impact on local children, with eligible gifts tripled for one day only.

As part of ICG’s 2026 Scholarship Campaign, gifts made on Wednesday, April 22, by first-time donors — or those who haven’t given in the past two years — will be tripled, up to $1,000, thanks to a special match from Wegmans.

The community has already contributed more than $11,000 — 40% towards the $27,500 needed by April 30. All gifts made throughout the month will be matched dollar-for-dollar by a generous donor, doubling the total impact to $55,000 and opening access to nature-based programming for more than 100 local children, regardless of their family’s ability to pay.

For local families, these scholarships make experiences possible that extend far beyond a single season. One parent, Addy, described the difference ICG has made for her son:  “Four-year-olds who are shy and observant, who follow rules and open up slowly, often seem small. At ICG, he is big. He has agency.”

Erin Marteal, ICG’s Development Director, shared,  “This campaign is about access, but also about identity. When a child has space to belong in nature, they begin to see themselves differently—more capable, more confident, more at home in the world. On Earth Day, we can extend that experience to more children, because every eligible gift goes three times as far.”

In addition to making an impact through giving, community members can participate in Earth Day Action: Volunteer Days at ICG, hands-on events that support the care and stewardship of this beloved space. Sponsored by Visions Federal Credit Union, Wegmans, and The Home Depot Foundation, these events highlight the power of collective environmental action.

Earth Day Action: Community Volunteer Day
Saturday, April 18 | 10 AM – 3 PM | Registration Required

Earth Day Action: Corporate Partner Volunteer Day
Wednesday, April 22 | 10 AM – 2 PM | Registration Required

ICG thanks all supporters so far and encourages community members to share the campaign or make an additional gift before April 30 to fully realize the match and expand access to nature-based programs for local children.

For more information or to give, visit the ICG website or contact Erin Marteal at giving@ithacachildrensgarden.org or (607) 319-4203.

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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/