Celebrating Our Volunteers: An Evening of Appreciation
On February 19, Heritage Conservancy staff and volunteers gathered at Aldie Mansion to celebrate the dedicated volunteers who make our work possible.
“You don’t just support Heritage Conservancy, you bring it to life,” said Kaylyn Brindisi, Volunteer and Development Events Associate, in her opening remarks. “We simply couldn’t do our work without you.”
In 2025, 349 volunteers contributed over 3,000 hours of service for Heritage Conservancy. Working with stewardship crews, tending gardens, preparing for events, and serving on committees, the efforts of our volunteers directly support Heritage Conservancy’s mission to preserve and protect the landscapes that make our region special.
“The impact of your work will be felt for generations to come,” Brindisi told the group. “It is an honor to work alongside such dedicated, amazing people.”
Award winners from left to right: Carol Macknin, Mike Walega, Kyle Loucks for PECO, and Nancy Fawley. Not pictured: Josephine Reitz
Recognizing Outstanding Service
The evening included an awards ceremony recognizing volunteers who went above and beyond in 2025:
Outstanding Corporate Volunteers: PECO
Heritage Conservancy has had a volunteer relationship with PECO for many years, but they were especially helpful in 2025. No matter how difficult the work, they are a group that is energetic, enthusiastic, and a pleasure to be around! Many of the volunteers return to projects year after year and feel very connected to our preserves and the work they do there. PECO volunteers attended our Mulch Madness event and helped us plant 50 Atlantic white cedars at Croydon Wood in October.
Outstanding Stewardship Volunteer: Josephine Reitz
Josephine is a dedicated Fridays in the Forest volunteer who contributed 65 hours of service in 2025. She completed a volunteer internship with our Science and Stewardship team for school, then kept coming back, continuing to volunteer long after her required hours were done.
Outstanding Gardening Volunteers: Mike Walega and Carol Macknin
Mike: Mike started volunteering with Heritage Conservancy since summer of 2025, and has consistently volunteered for the Aldie gardening group. He is dedicated, eager, and has become our facilities manager’s right-hand man!
Carol: Carol started volunteering in 2025 as well and can be seen in the Aldie gardens early in the morning, coming in to volunteer before work. Since she has started, she has been dedicated and works largely independently, and has a passion for being outside and gardening.
Outstanding Historic Resources Volunteer: Nancy Fawley
Nancy is keeping our historic records alive by sorting and digitizing our archives, bringing the past into the present! Nancy has been volunteering with Heritage Conservancy for 4 years.
About 60 of our volunteers attended the event, connecting over food and conversation. After the ceremony, attendees were able to take a guided tour of our historic Aldie Mansion, led by Liz Barmach, Heritage Conservancy’s Senior Development Associate. Liz shared the detailed history of the mansion and the Mercers’ role in Bucks County history. It was a chance for volunteers to meet others who contribute to Heritage Conservancy’s work (some for the first time) and celebrate the community they’ve helped build together.
Heritage Conservancy is grateful to every volunteer who contributed their time in 2025. Whether you showed up for multiple hours a week or just an event here and there, your work matters. You help us protect land, restore habitats, preserve history, and connect people to the landscapes that sustain us. We couldn’t do this work without you, and we’re so glad you’re part of our community!
Interested in volunteering with Heritage Conservancy? Click HERE for opportunities!
