Area Nonprofit Land Preserve Receives Big Donation For New HQ

McLean Game Refuge

SIMSBURY/CANTON/GRANBY, CT — A local nonprofit game refuge recently received significant donations toward its quest of promoting wildlire research and preservation in central Connecticut.

Squadron Capital LLC, a Granby-based business, has donated $200,000 to the McLean Game Refuge’s capital campaign, "A Force for Nature – The Campaign for McLean Game Refuge."

The nonprofit is looking to build a new headquarters.

The McLean Game Refuge is a wildlife sanctuary located in Granby, Simsbury, and Canton that is dedicated to the conservation of local ecosystems and the protection of plant and animal species living there. It's main headquarters are located in Simsbury.

McLean Board of Trustees member Mark Wetzel and board chairman Mike Paine have also made generous donations to the Game Refuge capital campaign of $50,000 each.

David Pelizzon, president of Squadron, said he believes "it takes more than living in a town to make it a Community and the game refuge is a unique asset to the local area and is very deserving our support. I hope the Squadron donation inspires others to donate in any amount and to also be ‘a force for nature’.”

This donation continues Squadron’s tradition of support to the local area of over $1.5 million to deserving organizations and activities.

The campaign has an ambitious goal of $850,000 to cover needed renovations to the existing
headquarters.

Currently, the work to maintain, study, and preserve the refuge’s diverse ecosystem is done in an unheated garage lacking adequate office and research space.

The new building will foster collaboration among researchers, educators, scientists, and universities.
government, and conservation groups.

This knowledge-sharing will seek solutions to address climate change, habitat preservation, and environmental threats.

With an updated and expanded headquarters building, the game refuge will have the resources to collect, maintain, and display history and artifacts, creating a vital hub for learning and discovery.

Importantly, the renovation project will improve trails and increase accessibility for people with limited mobility.

The McLean Game Refuge, Connecticut’s largest nonprofit private wildlife refuge, was created
by the will of Sen. George McLean in 1932.

Since then, the game refuge has grown to over 4,400 acres spanning three towns and is home to over 1,723 distinct species – including 634 plants, 149 birds, 31 mammals, 16 amphibians, and 12 reptiles.

In addition to hosting countless conservation, educational, and research projects, the McLean Game Refuge welcomes the public for quiet recreation on 27 miles of forest paths.

With generous support of 42 donors, including the recent donations from Squadron Capital LLC,
Wetzel and Paine, the Campaign for McLean Game Refuge, have met over 50 percent
of its $850,000 goal.

The campaign seeks additional donations from the local community in order to begin renovations in the fall of 2025.

The McLean Game Refuge is a 501 (c)3 nonprofit organization.

For more information and donation opportunities, click on this link.

Photo (L-R) Mark Wetzel, McLean Trustee, Lisa Clark, McLean President, Aina Hoskins,
Squadron Capital Executive Officer, David Pelizzon, Squadron Capital President, Connor Hogan,
McLean Game Refuge Director, Alison Swain, McLean Development Director