On Sept. 19, 2024, the Blackland Prairie Raptor Center (BPRC) will once again participate in North Texas Giving Day, marking its seventh year in this annual fundraising event.
Based in Collin County, the BPRC is dedicated to environmental preservation through public education and the conservation of birds of prey in their natural habitats. Named after the vast tallgrass prairie that once covered much of Texas, the center plays a vital role in helping the public understand the connection between raptors and healthy ecosystems.
North Texas Giving Day is an 18-hour community-wide online fundraising event that allows individuals to contribute to charitable organizations. The program is administered by the Communities Foundation of Texas, which garnered $63.9 million raised through 97,132 donors benefiting 3,249 local nonprofits, bringing the fifteen-year total to over $566 million.
Since joining North Texas Giving Day, the BPRC has raised between $60,000 and $70,000, with $15,594.31 contributed just last year. These funds have been crucial in improving the Center's ability to provide medical care for injured and orphaned birds of prey. "Thanks to the incredible generosity on North Texas Giving Day in 2023, we raised $15,594.31,” said Laura Johnson, executive director of the BPRC. “This remarkable effort has significantly enhanced our ability to care for our patients and extend our conservation education programs to new community members."
The BPRC’s impact on wildlife conservation in North Texas is substantial. In 2023 alone, the center received 701 injured or orphaned birds of prey, including Henley, a bald eagle who was successfully reunited with his parents at White Rock Lake after a storm displaced him from his nest. The center's rehabilitation team has handled a variety of challenging cases, such as baby eastern screech owls with fertilizer burns and owls with eye injuries. Additionally, the BPRC has expanded its volunteer team from 70 to over 120 members and scheduled 92 educational programs throughout the region in 2024, furthering its mission to educate the public about environmental conservation.
As North Texas Giving Day approaches, the BPRC is planning to connect with the community through various networking events, such as Coffee and Connections, to build on their past successes and expand their reach. The Center has also secured a 1:1 matching gift for this year’s Giving Day, which will double the impact of every donation received.
The BPRC’s conservation efforts are supported by dedicated volunteers like Rich and Nikki Lefebvre, who have been with the center for 18 years. Rich supervised the construction of all current buildings, saving the facility approximately $100,000 in construction costs, while Nikki recently contributed $5,000 toward the purchase of a radiograph machine. Other notable donors include Janet Jackson, who donated $7,000 during a fundraiser for injured or orphaned baby birds and Karen Mitchell, who contributed $5,000 to the BPRC's 2024 gala.
North Texas Giving Day is a critical opportunity for the Blackland Prairie Raptor Center to continue its mission of conserving Texas’ wildlife and educating the public about the importance of raptors in the ecosystem.
Early giving day begins on Sept. 1; those who wish to donate can click here to support Blackland Prairie Raptor Center (BPRC) and many other organizations.
Learn more about North Texas Giving Day by visiting its official website, clicking here.
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