Welcome to this first issue of Connections for 2006.

This month's grant announcement, the first of three we will make in 2006, begins the ninth year in the 50-year life of NMPCT. We are pleased again to expand the Trust's family to include 10 new grantee organizations as the Trust's annual grants budget continues to grow for a second consecutive year to more than $14.5 million in 2006. For this, we can thank sustained growth in our endowment investments from which we derive funds to make grants and support administrative operations. You can read more about our first-round grantees.

The feature article highlights several environmental organizations working in each of the Trust's target states to preserve habitat. Educating the public and working cooperatively with government, recreational users and those who rely upon the land for their livelihoods are strategies these organizations use to protect the environment. While the states of Indiana and Arizona differ dramatically in landscape, each possesses endangered natural treasures and unique ecosystems. All of the highlighted organizations and projects rely heavily on a combination of technological and scientific advancements and old-fashioned volunteer labor to do their work. Bob Berger and David Hillman, Arizona and Indiana grants program managers, respectively, collaborated on this article.

The Trust's family of Nina Scholars expanded by another 40 new students last fall. To date, we have celebrated 35 graduates and have a total of 133 remaining Nina Scholars working toward degrees at our four participating school sites. Applications for the sixth cohort are due April 1, 2006. Many of our grantees have referred applicants to this important scholarship program for nontraditional college students.

We welcome your comments and questions. Please contact us at Connections. Also, if you are interested in receiving a copy of the Trust's annual report and did not receive one last year, please send us your physical mailing address by April 30 to be added to our mailing list.