Eileen Rockefeller Growald Commits $1 Million Gift to Land & Garden Preserve
MOUNT DESERT ISLAND—The Mount Desert Land & Garden Preserve is honored and excited to announce a transformational pledge of $1 million from longtime supporter and former board director, Eileen Rockefeller Growald. This extraordinary commitment reflects Eileen’s deep faith in the future of the Preserve and her dedication to continuing her family’s legacy of stewardship on Mount Desert Island.
“The Land & Garden Preserve holds a very special place in my heart, said Eileen. “It represents the harmony between art, nature, and community that my family has cherished for generations. My hope is that this gift helps ensure the gardens and landscapes we love will continue to inspire, educate, and nurture all who visit.”
Marking the largest philanthropic investment of her lifetime to an organization not of her own founding, Eileen’s gift will advance cultural stewardship at the Preserve. Specifically, it will fund Cultural Landscape Reports to document the history and evolution of the gardens and landscapes, guide preservation strategies, support conservation of sculptures at the Abby Aldrich Rockefeller Garden, and bolster other projects that unite stewardship with scholarship.
“Eileen’s profoundly meaningful gift comes from her deep love and lifelong connection to the Preserve,” said Patrick MacRae, CEO of the Preserve. “Her remarkable generosity is a powerful affirmation of our mission and an inspiration to others who cherish the preservation and conservation of these historic places.”
This $1 million commitment also ranks among the largest non-estate, non-endowment cash gifts ever received by the Preserve, underscoring the enthusiasm of donors to invest in the Preserve’s ambitious future.
“We are deeply grateful to Eileen for this remarkable act of generosity,” said Kate Macko, Chair of the Preserve’s Board of Directors. “Her gift is an inspiring example of how personal commitment can shape the future of the Preserve.”
The Land & Garden Preserve cares for more than 1,400 acres of gardens, natural lands, and trails on Mount Desert Island, including the Asticou Azalea Garden, Thuya Garden, the Abby Aldrich Rockefeller Garden, and the lands around Little Long Pond and Hunters Cliffs.