Tara Collins
Communications director of Watershed Agricultural Council
The Watershed Agricultural Council works with farm and forest landowners in the Catskill region to protect drinking water for nine million New York residents. Through its programs in agriculture, forestry and conservation easements, the Council provides technical expertise and construction funding for projects designed to protect or improve water quality and engages over 1,000 private landowners in the Croton and Catskill/Delaware watersheds.
Why did you get involved in charitable work?
I’m at that point in my life where I can choose work based on what makes me happy and that has purpose, versus choosing a job to pay the mortgage. It’s so much more fulfilling to work for passion than to work to pay the bills -- and there was time when this was the first choice. My father always said, “Find yourself a job that you’re willing to do for free, that someone else is willing to pay you for.” He was a college professor; I’m a nonprofit communicator.
How does your charitable work affect you personally?
Clean drinking water is a limited natural resource. We can live weeks without food, but only days without water. The work we do at the Council is rewarding because the landowners we work with appreciate what we offer and they recognize their role in land/water stewardship. I love the taste of Catskills water, especially from my well. I hate to say I’m a water snob – but I can tell the difference between upstream water and processed municipal water.
How can charitable giving be improved?
Think outside the box. Donations don’t always have to be monetary. Free radio time, advertising space, items for an auction are all donations that don’t fall under the cold, hard cash category but are just as valuable.
