Crossroads Campaign A SOLUTION TO BALANCE DEVELOPMENT & GREEN SPACE PROTECTION IN THE UPSTATE NORTHERN GREENVILLE COUNTY / DICK CARR

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1 Crossroads Campaign A SOLUTION TO BALANCE DEVELOPMENT & GREEN SPACE PROTECTION IN THE UPSTATE NORTHERN GREENVILLE COUNTY / DICK CARR

2 Invest in the Upstate's quality of life. We have a decision to make right now, before it s too late. Do we step forward and make sure we grow thoughtfully and strategically? Or do we do nothing? PRETTY PLACE / JEN JOHNSON If we do nothing right now, our future is sealed. The Upstate's urban footprint is expected to double by 2040 consuming undeveloped land the size of Spartanburg County. Sprawling developments and asphalt are eating away at our farmlands and moving people farther away from town and city centers. It s why our roads are becoming increasingly congested, our rural landscapes are disappearing, and why the cost of emergency services, infrastructure, and maintenance will quickly outpace tax revenue. Make no mistake we are on a crash course to become the very type of congested, generic metropolis we ve all said we do not want to become. Now is our chance to change that trajectory to save the soul of the Upstate. Upstate Forever has been a champion for our region s special places for 20 years. But the stakes have changed. We face extraordinary, unprecedented growth. We must accelerate our efforts before it s too late. To that end, Upstate Forever is launching the $7.5 million Crossroads Campaign to address four key priorities: Permanent Land and Water Protection, Balancing Growth with Resource Protection, Engaging a Base of Conservationists, and Sustainable Funding for the Future. LEZLIE BARKER Your gift to the Crossroads Campaign is an investment in maintaining our region's high quality of life for future generations. Together, we will ensure that Upstate South Carolina remains green, vibrant, and prosperous forever. ANDREA COOPER, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR SWAMP RABBIT TRAIL / MEGAN BURTON

3 Permanent Land & Water Protection Envision the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains. See yourself driving up scenic Highway 11 towards Table Rock on a crisp fall day. Remember your last stroll along the banks of the Tyger or the Saluda River. These special places are examples of Conservation Keystones. Not only are they critical to the protection of habitat and water quality, they are also the natural areas, recreation spaces, and farmlands that signify who we are and what we value. Crossroads will provide financial resources to permanently protect even more of these precious natural assets before it s too late. Your investment in the Crossroads Campaign will help:» Permanently protect 15,000 high-priority acres of greenspace, farmland, and high-quality habitat from development.» Safeguard water quality and quantity by preserving critical watershed lands as we accommodate more residential and industrial users to our region than ever before.» Facilitate our ongoing collaborative partnerships with water utilities like ReWa, Greenville Water, Spartanburg Water, SJWD Water District, Woodruff Roebuck Water District, and Anderson Regional Joint Water Supply to find conservation solutions. LAKE GREENWOOD / JON HOLLOWAY

4 Balancing Growth with Resource Protection Sprawl threatens our region. Strip malls, parking lots, and subdivisions encroach upon the Upstate's unique character. Think of the immensity of Haywood Mall. We lose the equivalent size of that mall every single day in undeveloped land. The most effective way to reduce sprawl is to develop strong relationships and work proactively with local officials in the fastest-growing Upstate counties. This is time-consuming work, but it is urgently needed, and Upstate Forever is the best candidate to do it. We ve spent the last 20 years forging relationships with businesses and municipalities across jurisdictions to protect your quality of life through smarter land use. With your help, we will find better ways to grow. Your investment in the Crossroads Campaign will help:» Partner with citizens, local officials, and other stakeholders to build coalitions that advocate for positive growth practices with a focus in the fastest-growing Upstate counties (including Greenville, Spartanburg, Anderson, and some parts of Laurens and Pickens).» Reduce sprawl by advocating for a policy framework that:» Protects greenspace by steering growth to already developed areas where existing infrastructure can support it.» Promotes development with a smaller land footprint and higher long-term ROI for taxpayers.» Incentivizes the creation of strong communities that retain their unique sense of place.» Sets the stage for better transit and expands affordable housing options. ABANDONED UPSTATE STRIP MALL / JON HOLLOWAY

5 FARM IN PENDLETON / LEZLIE BARKER Engaging a Base of Conservationists The need is urgent. Thousands are unaware of the threats facing the Upstate. The Crossroads Campaign will exponentially grow our collective influence. We aim to double the size of our grassroots support and equip them to advocate on behalf of the Upstate, just like you. Our larger and more powerful base will join elected officials and business leaders to save our special places and quality of life before they re gone forever. Your investment in the Crossroads Campaign will help:» Broaden Upstate Forever's base to 5,000 active members by 2022, which will strengthen our ability to mobilize grassroots support and influence policymakers on important issues.» Foster a shared conservation vision among the Upstate s residents through more thoughtful, relevant, and widely distributed communication.

6 Sustainable Funding for the Future Growth is coming. By 2040, more than 300,000 additional people will call the Upstate home. We want to welcome everyone while being vigilant about the natural resources we love. Crossroads will grow Upstate Forever s endowment so we can work on your behalf for years to come. A larger endowment means we can always be your advocate welcoming new neighbors without spoiling the Upstate. Your planned gift as part of the Crossroads Campaign will:» Expand Upstate Forever's capacity and resiliency through predictable income.» Give our staff more resources and agility to face Goliaths large, time-sensitive development projects that threaten the Upstate's critical lands, waters, or quality of life as the Upstate grows. Ways to make a planned gift:» Include Upstate Forever in your will» Give a gift of stock» Donate your residence or property» Designate UF as beneficiary of life insurance policies or retirement plans» Set up a Charitable Remainder Trust, a Charitable Lead Trust, or a Charitable Gift Annuity CAMPFIRE ON TABLE ROCK / TOMMY WYCHE

7 "Upstate Forever is what passion pushed to policy looks like. It is Blue Wall ridge and mountain rich cove. It is Piedmont old farm and autumn fallow field and oak-hickory forest. To me it is what conservation looks like when dedication to land ethic meets commitment to doing something for future generations. Upstate Forever is our best chance 'up here' to keep the wild, wild." J. Drew Lanham, PhD, ALUMNI DISTINGUISHED PROFESSOR OF ECOLOGY, CULTURE & CONSERVATION AT CLEMSON UNIVERSITY "I am a licensed counselor and have lived at the base of Glassy Mountain for over 20 years. Everyone who comes here, regardless of their spiritual tradition, says that there is something sacred and special about this land. We could not have saved it without the help of Upstate Forever. Their tireless commitment to preserving special places like this is a gift to us all." Shelly Smith, PICKENS COUNTY RESIDENT I support Upstate Forever because I live, work and play here, as do ScanSource employees. In fact, ScanSource is committed to environmental responsibility as a company value. I believe strongly in Upstate Forever s mission to lead the charge in protecting our region s character, and am proud to support this effort. Mike Baur, CEO OF SCANSOURCE & UPSTATE FOREVER BOARD MEMBER "I often think about place and what the characteristics are of those places that capture my heart. Natural beauty and opportunities to be active in nature or to sit and reflect are top on my list. However, I also love the life, diversity, and connectivity of cities. Upstate Forever is leading efforts not only to preserve our area s natural resources, but also to promote sustainable and connected development." Natalia Valenzuela Swanson, MARY BLACK FOUNDATION "Sprawl threatens the Upstate we all treasure! As a native of the Upstate, I am deeply concerned about the way our region is growing - and the pace of that growth. If we do not take action now, we stand to lose the special natural character of our Upstate, which is one of the major reasons people and corporations come here. The work of Upstate Forever will be a major force in delivering continuing economic growth and a better quality of life, both now and for future generations. We can change our current course, but we must act now." Glenn Hilliard, CHAIRMAN & CEO OF HILLIARD GROUP, LLC & UPSTATE FOREVER BOARD MEMBER

8 507 Pettigru Street, Greenville, SC Andrea Cooper EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR x24 Aldon Knight DIRECTOR OF DEVELOPMENT x31 MAC STONE MAC STONE JON HOLLOWAY SHELLEY ROBBINS