Press Release
By Friends of Ft. Clinch
06-10-24
Friends of Fort Clinch (FOFC), a nonprofit organization committed to preserving Fort Clinch State Park, recently celebrated the Second Annual Family Fun Mill Day. The event recognized Earth Day and Arbor Day and was hosted in partnership with RYAM, WestRock, and LignoTech, three pillars of the local community.
This year, the event raised $20,000 to fund conservation projects within the park. Employees from the mills and their families spent the day enhancing the Beach Side area of Fort Clinch by adding native palm trees, removing invasive plants, cleaning the beach, installing fencing and interpretive panels.
“It’s truly inspiring to see RYAM, LignoTech, and WestRock, three cornerstone businesses of Fernandina Beach, come together with their families to contribute so meaningfully to our park,” said Heath Alboher, Park Manager for Fort Clinch State Park. “Their commitment not only supports the ongoing maintenance of Fort Clinch, it ensures that this treasured local landmark can be enjoyed by future generations.”
The day’s efforts focused on making substantial improvements to the park’s infrastructure and visitor experience, reflecting Friends of Fort Clinch’s dedication to preserving its natural beauty and historical significance. Additional improvements were made to the Birding Pavilion, including the installation of new interpretive panels and a new mortice style rail to enhance wildlife viewing opportunities.
“Each year, Family Fun Mill Day grows in significance, embodying the spirit of Fort Clinch as a place where history comes alive,” said Logan Eason, President of Friends of Fort Clinch’s Board of Directors. “We are profoundly thankful for the generosity and hard work of RYAM, WestRock and LignoTech and look forward to growing this partnership in the years to come.”
“We are thrilled to once again collaborate with Friends of Fort Clinch and our partners at LignoTech, as well as WestRock, to bolster the park’s preservation,” said Marjanna Garvin, Human Resources Manager at RYAM. “Fort Clinch State Park continues to be a cornerstone of environmental and historical significance in Fernandina Beach. Employees and families volunteering together to preserve this landmark underscores our dedication to maintaining the heritage we cherish in Fernandina Beach.”
In total, the event produced more than 300 volunteer hours. RYAM, a leader in sustainable materials, LignoTech, innovators in biorefining, and WestRock, pioneers in fiber-based packaging, continue to demonstrate their commitment to environmental stewardship and community engagement.
“The legacy of Mill employees living, working and playing in Fernandina Beach matches well with Friends of Fort Clinch’s mission,” said Eric Schmidt, Community Relations Manager at WestRock. “We are thankful for the opportunity to give back in a meaningful way to the community in which we operate.”
For more information and photos from the event, or to learn more about the ongoing conservation efforts at Fort Clinch State Park, please visit FortClinch.org.
About Friends of Fort Clinch The Friends of Fort Clinch, Inc. (FOFC) is a non-profit known as a Citizen Support Organization (CSO). Any and all money raised by FOFC goes directly to fund Fort Clinch State Park projects which would not be funded by the State of Florida. Through fundraising and grant acquisitions, the FOFC enables restoration projects at historic Fort Clinch, supports special events and educational programming,
