The College of Charleston Graduate Student Association (GSA) has selected the Charleston Parks Conservancy for its 2010-2011 Adopt-An-Organization Outreach Program. The students will be working with the Conservancy in Cannon Park to assist with park renovations and build support among the community.

“The Graduate Student Association has always been an organization geared toward bringing students together to create a voice for the graduate student body at College of Charleston,” says Maggie Travis, the association’s community outreach chairwoman who is pursuing a master’s in corporate communication. “One of GSA’s primary goals as an organization is to shed light on the importance of giving back to the Charleston community.”

Plans for Cannon Park include renovating the large flower bed behind the columns from what was once the Charleston Museum. Students will be going door to door in the neighborhoods surrounding Cannon Park to spread the word about the park and upcoming renovations. Work on the $5,000 project will begin in March, and the Graduate Student Association is raising money to help offset the cost.

Travis says the association’s decision to select the Conservancy as its philanthropy of choice was an excellent one. “The Conservancy opened its arms to GSA and was ecstatic at the opportunity to forge new relationships with part of the College of Charleston academic community. We hope this project will foster a continued and successful relationship with the Conservancy.”

“Our organization is built on community partnerships so we were thrilled when the graduate students at the College of Charleston wanted to work with us,” says Mary Neves Richards, events director for the Conservancy. “We look forward to their help in Cannon Park and hope their efforts will encourage others to volunteer at Cannon Park.”

For more information, contact Niki Deweese at 843.953.1435.

More information on the Cannon Park project.