April 7. The Leon Levine Foundation has given the Carolina Raptor Center a $250,000 challenge grant to help complete the $1.4 million “Our Quest” Campaign. The ultimate goal is $10.6 million needed to build the new Quest campus and renovate the Raptor Medical Center off Beattie’s Ford Road.
Justin Steinschriber of Leon Levine Foundation announces the challenge grant. Photo by Jane Campbell.
“The Leon Levine Foundation joins the Duke Energy Foundation among the largest donors to Our Quest Campaign,” said Raptor Center Executive Director Jim Warren. “This new partnership gives the fundraising team significant incentive to complete the campaign before the end of the year.”
Eagle nesting, research, formal education development and rehabilitation efforts at Carolina Raptor Center are supported in part by an Environmental program grant from Duke Energy Foundation. The Duke Foundation made a $400,000 gift to the campaign.
Mathias Engelmann, senior medical coordinator, with Norman. Photo by Jane Campbell.
“We are excited to support the Carolina Raptor Center and its ‘Our Quest’ Campaign,” said Tom Lawrence, executive director of The Leon Levine Foundation. “Already a unique organization nationally, we feel strongly that Carolina Raptor Center, in partnership with Mecklenburg County, is creating a new must-visit destination that significantly adds to cultural life in the Charlotte region.”
CRC provides vital STEM education to children and adults across the region through its formal and informal education programs. Each year, more than 40,000 visitors walk our Raptor Trail and almost 27,000 students participate in formal STEM education programs.
Norman takes flight. Photo by Jane Campbell.
At its new campus, visitation is poised to increase to more than 100,000 people annually.
The announcement of the Levine gift took place at Lake Norman State Park in Troutman. Raptor Center officials released an a Bald Eagle patient during the announcement.
The bird was rescued from a residential back yard in Mooresville when the owners noticed it was unable to fly. Named “Norman,” the eagle was retrieved, stabilized and transported to Carolina Raptor Center for treatment. After a week of treatment and was approved for release on Thursday, March 30.
