Birkley had many opportunities to start learning about the Georgia Coast. He learned enough to know he wanted to learn more and he wanted to work toward a more sustainable coast. He was also learning about new efforts emerging that he wanted to support with his life moving forward as he sought to study marine science and sustainability in graduate school.
It is in this spirit that the Birkley Heynen Environment Foundation is happy to announce it is making two new grants to ECO Georgia.
As their mission statement says, “ECO is dedicated to promoting sustainable oyster farming and fostering community engagement and advocacy for oysters in Georgia. By collaborating with educators to empower students, increasing awareness and support for our coastal ecosystems, and engaging the community and partner organizations, we aim to make a lasting impact on Georgia’s pristine coastline.”
ECO Georgia was created in July 2024 by Laura Solomon, who Chairs ECO and is Co-Owner of Tybee Oyster Company, and Katie Holliday, who now serves as the Vice-Chair of ECO and is also Assistant Principal at Tybee Island Maritime Academy.
The first grant will help initiative scholarships for students from under-resourced schools across coastal Georgia to ensure equitable access to ECO Georgia’s field trips and oyster-based programming.
The second grant will help ECO launch it’s own internship program that seeks to provide applied professional experience in outreach, oyster aquaculture, and program delivery and start building stronger connections colleges and universities across the coast.
We are excited to enter into this relationship with ECO Georgia and hope to continue to support their important efforts moving forward as a way to help other young people find their passion to foster greater education, advocacy and action across the Georgia Coast.
