Western Reserve Land Conservancy “EverGreenEverBlue”

Western Reserve Land Conservancy, the largest local land trust in Ohio,welcomed nearly 400 guests in November for a special evening at The Madison in Cleveland. Attendees of EverGreenEverBlue, the organization’s largest annual fundraiser, enjoyed an evening of dinner, dancing and live entertainment in support of the organization’s mission.

Margaux Murphy and Julie Visconsi served as co-chairs of the event. Members of the event committee included: Vanessa Coppa, Renee de Windt, Laura Greig, Sarah Guyuron, Meg Hackett, Isabelle King, Vanessa King, Muffi Sherwin, Lisa Turben and Sarah Walter.

This year’s event focused particularly on support of the Land Conservancy’s efforts in urban communities— including restoration and demolition of abandoned homes, continued efforts to reforest and increase green space and further support healthy communities. The Land Conservancy’s urban program, Thriving Communities, works statewide to clean and green urban centers devastated by the foreclosure crisis.

Guests began arriving at The Madison, a former luxury faucet manufacturing warehouse turned open-concept event space, just after 5p.m. The Madison’s pristine white walls and exposed brick and duct work were the perfect backdrop for the Land Conservancy’s vibrant signage, which was spread throughout the trendy, 1900’s warehouse.

Attendees were directed to a colorfully lit VIP lounge, complete with a full bar and intimate seating area. Mike Smith, owner and executive chef of Thyme Catering provided an impressive array of passed hors d’oeuvres including candied fig, mascarpone and hand-made kimchi served on sweet crostini before a formal dinner of braised short rib with a bibb lettuce salad.

The Cleveland-based Ottawa rock band opened the evening’s dance festivities with an eclectic set list of danceable classic rock covers and their own original music. Select guests were treated to “VIP in CLE,” an after-party lounge located upstairs in dramatically lit rooms that once served as office space for the faucet maker administrative staff. Heidelberg Distributing of Cleveland, Great Lakes Brewery and Cleveland Whiskey provided high-end tawny ports, Christmas Ale, and Black Cherry Wood Bourbon Whiskey for guests to sip and enjoy.

Western Reserve Land Conservancy has permanently preserved more than 750 properties totaling 57,000+ acres, created more than 170 public parks and preserves, led the efforts to create 55 county land banks across Ohio and planted and distributed more than 13,000 robust trees in Cleveland. For more information, visti www.landconservancy.org. PHOTOGRAPHS BY ANITA LOUISE PHOTOGRAPHY