< PreviousFALLINGWATER Snow blankets Bear Run and the grounds surrounding Fallingwater. 10 Western Pennsylvania Conservancyflagstone and applying waterproofing materials. A metal channel was installed to capture and divert water from the bedroom door and windows. The channel was then integrated into a larger waterproofing system before the bedding mortar was spread and flagstones relaid and repointed. We also employed a team of masonry experts to assess the movement of water between the concrete slabs and roofing system. Tests revealed moisture traveled horizontally into the chimney mass through internal cavities and into several of the house’s interior walls on the second and third floors. Options to remedy the issue are currently under consideration. NEW DIRECTOR BRINGS BACK EXPERIENCE, EXPERTISE Justin Gunther started his tenure as the new director of Fallingwater and vice president of the Western Pennsylvania Conservancy in April 2018. A native of Richmond, Va., Gunther succeeded Lynda Waggoner, who retired from the position after more than 40 years at Fallingwater. Previously serving as Fallingwater’s curator of buildings and collections from 2007 to 2011, Gunther returned to Pennsylvania with nearly 20 years of experience deeply rooted in historic preservation. Fallingwater continues to be inspirational – not only for worldwide visitors, but for design professionals, educators and students seeking a deeper understanding or a unique perspective of how architecture, design and nature can coexist. Through our various house tours and the Fallingwater Institute, thousands of visitors, interns and program participants in 2018 experienced Wright’s architecture and explored innovative thinking strategies while visiting Fallingwater. FALLINGWATER INSTITUTE PROGRAMS ADVANCE The Fallingwater Institute provides various immersive programs throughout the year that are available to students, designers, artists and educators to foster collaborative thinking and challenge current thoughts, ideals and ideas related to design and architecture. Through the institute’s artist-in-residency program, we welcomed three visiting artists of exceptional talent to live, study and work onsite. Luisa Lambri is a fine art photographer from Milan who has years of experience photographing some of the world’s most iconic architecture, often presenting surprising abstract compositions created in interior spaces. For a week, she intricately photographed the interior and exterior of Fallingwater. Dr. Gjoko Muratovski is the director of The Myron E. Ullman, Jr. School of Design at the University of Cincinnati. He spent his week conducting research for his project titled The Future of Creative Workspaces. Eleanor Pritchard, a London-based designer, spent time at Fallingwater in December discussing and drawing inspiration from Fallingwater’s textile collection. She is creating textiles that will be on display for her upcoming 2019 exhibition in Fallingwater’s Speyer Gallery. “The Teacher residency was a transformative experience. I learned new ways of thinking and creating. The access we had to Fallingwater made it a truly once-in-a-lifetime experience,” said one of the eight teachers who participated in our teacher residency program in 2018. The course is part of a longstanding tradition of immersive educational programming at Fallingwater. Teachers and museum educators from around the world are invited to spend one week at Fallingwater while learning ways to incorporate architecture and design techniques into their classroom lessons and curriculum. Each residency cohort includes teachers from a variety of grade levels and academic disciplines, lending a variety of perspectives, collaborations and thinking. The 2018 residency focused on the design-thinking strategies that connect academia, design and architecture with STEAM and other classroom subjects. FALLINGWATER REQUIRES SPECIAL CARE AND ATTENTION Preservation work continued at Fallingwater in 2018 with many ongoing activities, including the master bedroom repointing project. Occurring over several months, Fallingwater’s preservation staff worked to prevent further water damage in the master bedroom terrace by removing the existing Carefully applied materials reinforced the existing flagstone, helping to prevent water and moisture damage to Fallingwater’s master bedroom terrace. Textile designer Eleanor Pritchard of London spent time at Fallingwater in 2018 to develop a design for an exclusive Fallingwater blanket. 11 2018 Annual ReportCOMMUNITY GARDENS & GREENSPACE This little volunteer at one of the Conservancy’s community flower gardens in Pittsburgh’s Shadyside neighborhood shows that giving back to your community can happen at any age. 12 Western Pennsylvania Conservancydrains. Drains and piles of stones, known as rock weirs, are also built into the design. Project partners included Pittsburgh Water and Sewer Authority, ALCOSAN and the City of Pittsburgh. More than 200 WPC volunteers helped complete the greening for this new bioswale, which included planting more than 13,000 perennials, 87 shrubs and 25 trees over the one-acre site. FOSTERING COGNITIVE DEVELOPMENT WITH GREENSPACES Since 2007, the Conservancy’s school grounds greening projects at nearly 60 schools have helped to enrich children’s educational experiences and learning environments by creating opportunities to play, learn and socialize in outdoor settings. Two school projects advanced in 2018, including one at McQuistion Elementary School in the Butler Public School District. The school had a large underused courtyard that has been transformed into a green space for imaginative, creative play that fosters cognitive development while encouraging physical activity. Conservancy staff worked closely with the district to plan and implement green play areas with input from students and teachers. The Conservancy also worked with teachers to develop a STEM curriculum to introduce the outdoor classroom to students. Funding from the Arconic Foundation and the school’s parent-teacher association paid for the project. With the help of more than 11,000 volunteers, the Conservancy’s community gardens and greenspace program continued efforts in 2018 to help beautify and enhance local communities and bring nature to outdoor spaces across the region. Through the support of local foundations and private donors, we were able to install new and plant existing community flower gardens, plant trees through our various tree initiatives and continue greening efforts at local schools. HELPING TO MAKE GARDENING ACCESSIBLE FOR EVERYONE There was a lot to smile about on May 1, 2018. Many smiles adorned the faces of students from The Day School at The Children’s Institute of Pittsburgh who planted the first flowers, 100 blooming pansies, at WPC’s new ADA-accessible community flower garden. Located at the First United Methodist Church of Pittsburgh in the city’s Shadyside neighborhood, this new garden expands gardening opportunities for people with disabilities or other physical limitations. Made possible with funding from the Allegheny County Regional Asset District, six raised wheelchair-accessible flower beds are located at the site. The grant also helped with the purchase of specialty tools, to help make gardening for people with disabilities easier at any of our 132 gardens across the region in 20 counties. The garden is the City of Pittsburgh’s first ADA-accessible community flower garden and Children’s Institute of Pittsburgh CEO Wendy Pardee said the new garden expands opportunities for her students. “Working at this garden site will not only provide a form of physical therapy and real-life instruction for our students, but it will also lend them a tangible connection to the soil, the seasons and the City of Pittsburgh. For that, we thank the Conservancy, which has been a great partner to The Children’s Institute as we continue to look for ways to engage our students with the communities we all call home,” said Pardee. KEEPING THE REGION AND JOHNSTOWN BEAUTIFUL In 2018, Conservancy staff and volunteers planted more than 3,800 landscape and restoration trees across the region through several tree planting efforts. One of these projects is Trees for Johnstown, a community forestry project of the Conservancy in partnership with the City of Johnstown and the Johnstown Shade Tree Commission. Thanks to the support of the Community Foundation for the Alleghenies, we have planted more than 75 trees since 2017 with the help of volunteers. “The addition of the newly planted trees in our neighborhood has already contributed to creating a beautiful and welcoming atmosphere,” said Chad Pysher, co-owner of Cambria City Flowers in Johnstown. “As Johnstown continues its renaissance, the trees are symbolic of that growth. We are looking forward to establishing future projects with WPC to continue developing and creating an amazing landscape in the Historic District.” In addition to planting trees, the Conservancy’s community forestry staff also conducted tree assessments to evaluate tree species’ health and diversity, and performed a street tree benefit analysis. All the data will be used by the city to continue monitoring tree health over time. STORMWATER CAPTURE USING GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE CONTINUES A beautiful and efficient bioswale now exists at the site of the Conservancy’s community flower garden at the intersection of Centre and Herron avenues in Pittsburgh’s historic Hill District neighborhood. This new bioswale is designed with shallow depressions, native plants and underground storage tanks. Together, these features slow, filter, absorb and capture the stormwater from the hillside so that it does not rush into roadways and overflow sewer A smile brightens the face of this student from The Children’s Institute of Pittsburgh who helped plant the first blossoms at our new ADA-accessible garden in Pittsburgh. WPC staff and volunteers planted thousands of perennials, shrubs and trees at this new bioswale in Pittsburgh’s Hill District community. 13 2018 Annual Report2018 FINANCIAL SUMMARY OPERATING REVENUES OPERATING EXPENSES Millions Contributions, Grants and Memberships: $ 2.6 5.2 0.7 5.8 Individual Foundation Business Government Millions Earned Income: PROGRAMS 84% GOVERNMENT 23% SALES 10% BUSINESS 3% FOUNDATIONS 21% INDIVIDUAL 10% FALLINGWATER ADMISSIONS 20% OTHER 2% INVESTMENT RETURN 11% FUNDRAISING 8% ADMINISTRATIVE 8% $ 5.0 2.5 0.6 Fallingwater Admissions Sales (Gift Shop/Café) Other Investment return designated for current operations TOTAL TOTAL $ 2.7 $25.1 Millions Internal Income: Programs: Millions $ 9.7 7.3 2.8 0.5 Conservation Fallingwater Community Gardens and Greenspace Constituent Programs and Outreach 2.1 1.9 $24.3 Millions Program Support: Fundraising Administrative and General Expenses 14 Western Pennsylvania ConservancyWITH GRATITUDE TO OUR GENEROUS DONORS The Western Pennsylvania Conservancy is supported by more than 9,000 private donors (individuals, corporations, foundations and organizations) that together have made cash, stock and in- kind gifts totaling $9,941,954 in 2018. Their support is playing a significant role in advancing WPC’s mission of protecting water, land and life in Western Pennsylvania. We are also delighted to recognize both the generous future commitments of our Heritage Circle donors as well as remember the legacies of those who have passed on. Together, they provide transformational support for the Conservancy to conserve our beautiful region now and in the future. Donors of $100 or more are listed in the following pages. We regret that space constraints prohibit acknowledging all supporters by name. We have made every effort to ensure that our donor lists are accurate and reflect gifts made from Jan. 1, 2018 through Dec. 31, 2018. However, should you find an error or omission, please contact Max Staudacher, donor relations coordinator, toll-free at 1-866-564-6972 (ext. 2336) or via email at mstaudacher@paconserve.org. The sun setting over French Creek in Erie County Photo by volunteer Greg Funka 15 2018 Annual ReportHERITAGE CIRCLE GIFT PLANNING SOCIETY The Heritage Circle recognizes donors who have made the Western Pennsylvania Conservancy a part of their legacy through their estate plans. By designating the Conservancy as a beneficiary of a donor’s will, trust, IRA, retirement plan, life insurance policy, or charitable gift annuity, individuals provide long-term, significant support for the Conservancy. Contact Julie Holmes, director of development, toll-free at 1-866-564-6972 (ext. 2312) or jholmes@paconserve.org for more details. ANNUAL FUND Gifts to the annual fund are essential in sustaining our daily operations. These vital contributions enable the Conservancy to carry out its mission throughout the year. You can also provide dependable income for WPC and Fallingwater by making your annual gift through convenient monthly deductions via credit card or debit card from a designated financial account. LEADERSHIP CIRCLE AND KAUFMANN SOCIETY The Conservancy’s Leadership Circle members, including Kaufmann Society donors whose gifts are directed for Fallingwater, have made the Western Pennsylvania Conservancy’s work a philanthropic priority. Members who make annual gifts of $1,000 or more are recognized through the Leadership Circle program. The Conservancy recognizes this significant commitment by providing enhanced access to our programs, special outings and additional insights into our plans throughout the year. Become a monthly donor and make your $1,000+ annual gift in convenient monthly deductions – a simple way to make a big difference! EVERGREEN CIRCLE Members of the Evergreen Circle have loyally supported the Conservancy for at least 15 out of the last 20 years. Some have been members for much longer – with memberships dating back to the 1950s! Their loyal and continuous support has been a crucial part of our successful work. We are deeply grateful for those who constantly support our efforts each and every year. EMPLOYEE MATCHING GIFT PROGRAM Many companies and organizations will match employee contributions, greatly increasing the impact of your gift to WPC. Please contact your human resources office for further information. SPECIAL GIFTS The Conservancy deeply appreciates gifts of appreciated stock, real estate property, in-kind gifts and multi-year commitments in support of our programs. Please contact the Conservancy’s development office at 412-586-2336 or development@paconserve.org for more information. To learn more about how you can help, contact Max Staudacher, donor relations coordinator, toll-free at 1-866-564-6972 (ext. 2336) or via email at mstaudacher@paconserve.org . Additional information can be found on our website at WaterLandLife.org. HOW YOU CAN HELP The Western Pennsylvania Conservancy relies on the support of more than 9,000 private donors and 11,000 volunteers to fulfill its mission to conserve water, land and life. Your continued involvement will ensure that our work continues. Volunteers planted a WPC community flower garden in Pittsburgh’s Squirrel Hill neighborhood 31 2018 Annual Report800 Waterfront Drive Pittsburgh, PA 15222 412-288-2777 info@paconserve.org WaterLandLife.org FALLINGWATER SOIRÉE Join us September 7 for the Spend a magical evening at Fallingwater as the sun sets over the Laurel Highlands during the Fallingwater Soirée: An elegant evening of food and music inspired by nature. This event, which is being held in place of our Twilight Tour fundraiser, will provide a new twist on an elegant, music-filled evening at Fallingwater. It will be held on Saturday, Sept. 7 from 6-9:30 p.m. Dine on cuisine by James Beard Award-nominated Chef Kevin Sousa of Superior Motors and enjoy self-guided tours of the house, where you will encounter music by Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra musicians. Members can purchase specially priced tickets by calling 724-329-8501; nonmembers can register by phone or online at Fallingwater.org/Soiree.Next >