By: Victoria Clevenger, Executive Director

Originally published December 3rd 2024, Giving Tuesday

 

Dearest LLA Members, Volunteers and Friends of the Association – 

Thanks to you, the LLA has had an incredible year! In 2024 we were able to accomplish a lot and the ripple effect of our joint efforts have greatly impacted our whole community and ultimately, have helped preserve and protect Lake Lanier.

It’s no secret that the LLA relies on the support of our members, volunteers, donors and community partners. The weight of which we feel inflation, operation costs, and the need to stretch a dollar are deeply felt as a small non-profit trying our very best to maintain programs and look for growth opportunities to further the LLA mission. This year especially, as we engage in significant programs, such as Project Armor, the need to be good stewards of the resources and gifts we’ve been given has never been greater. My question for you, as an LLA member and donor is this – have you ever considered what the efforts of each individual member or dollar donated to the LLA can do?

LLA recently released a statement from our President, Todd Baxter, which detailed how your dollars are at work on Lake Lanier when you support the LLA. If you’ll allow me, I’d love to share how this really reflects the heartbeat of the LLA and makes our Clean, Full and Safe Lake mission possible.

Let’s review a simple $100 donation, which we’ve dubbed the Skipper Level membership. Have you ever thought about how $100 impacts the full-scope of LLA’s work? Let’s dig in a bit…

In 2024, LLA was able to embark on our latest riprap installation project. We’ve dubbed this effort, Project Armor, and we’re aiming to install one mile of riprap on vulnerable shoreline areas. LLA’s last riprap installation project was completed in 2020, which included installing two miles of riprap on 12 islands. The completion of Project Armor would bring LLA’s total to 3 miles of installed riprap and shoreline area protected from erosion.

This effort is officially in the works after many months of preparation; including reviewing a shoreline and erosion study that LLA commissioned months ago, reviewing competitive bids for the installation, hauling and rock quarries, and partnering with County officials to obtain earmarked funding. There has been so much work going on in the background to make this effort come to fruition. As of today, we’re nearly a quarter of the way through our projected list of installation locations, with riprap completed or the early stages of clearing and permitting in-progress to allow for rock to soon be placed. From these efforts put forth to make Project Armor possible, we know that a donation of $100 can fund a foot of riprap. This includes the rock quarry fees, hauling the rock and the installation of the rock to ensure the shoreline is properly protected. If not for the generosity of the County officials who have helped fund 75% of this project, LLA would need 6,000 LLA members at the Skipper Level to fully fund. Alternatively, LLA is looking to raise $150,000 to fully fund Project Armor and make another mile of shoreline protection possible.

Alternatively, a $100 donation could help cover the costs of 8 life jackets for our Life Jacket Loaner Stations. The LLA has 12 loaner stations and stocks them with life jackets in sizes infant, youth, child and adult Memorial Day Weekend – Labor Day Weekend. The total cost for this program is roughly $10,000 – which allows the LLA to build one or two new stations each year, as well as stock all stations with life jackets throughout the peak-season and accounts for the many jackets that are graciously donated throughout the year. This program alone would need 100 LLA members at the Skipper Level to fully fund in 2025.

Another example of your generous $100 donation is Shore Sweep! Did you know that $100 could be used to provide Shore Sweep volunteers with equipment, such as trashbags, gloves, water and snacks, and a commemorative t-shirt. LLA’s shoreline cleanup annually brings together over 1,000 volunteers and collects over 80 tons of trash, making it one of the single largest cleanup projects in all of Georgia and an essential effort to ensure Lake Lanier is clean and beautiful for all to enjoy. The total cost for this program is roughly $20,000 – which allows the LLA to establish 14 cleanup sites with dumpsters and supplies, 7 advanced cleanup sites that are cleared in partnership with local dock-builders at little to no cost to LLA, donated heavy equipment and certified operators, snacks, shirts and supplies for all 1,000+ volunteers. Shore Sweep is essential, but it is not without expense and hard work that this great success is achieved. This program alone would need 200 LLA members at the Skipper Level to fully fund in 2025.

As you can see, LLA’s on-lake initiatives, programs and efforts you’ve come to know and love are truly reliant on the support of the Lake Lanier community. If it’s not through donated goods and services, grants or county funding, it’s thanks to you – our members, our donors, our volunteers. Those of you who choose to be generous with your financial gifts, time and resources that make our mission possible each year.

On behalf of the whole LLA team, staff and Board of Directors, I ask you to consider making a charitable donation to the Lake Lanier Association this Giving Tuesday. Your gift can impact not only LLA and make our on-lake programs possible again in 2025, but it will directly impact your backyard, your playground, your home and beloved Lake Lanier.

With Gratitude,

Victoria Clevenger

Executive Director

 

Ready to give to the LLA? Click here to make an online donation or use the information below to mail a check to the LLA Office. 

Lake Lanier Association is a 501c3 non-profit. | 821 Dawsonville Hwy Suite 110 Gainesville, GA 30501 | Federal Tax ID: 58-126479

 

Thank you for your support of a Clean, Full and Safe Lake Lanier!