HISTORY OF PATH OF PRESERVATION
OUR HISTORY
Through work with numerous nonprofits/non-for-profits, Aaron Harrigan recognized the need to highlight segments of life that garner lesser attention. He has worked with programs aimed at assisting homeless, children’s early life health, bridging technology with older generations, and the environment.
Some of these nonprofits/non-for-profits include: Carrfour Supportive Housing, Miami-Dade Homeless Trust, Wesley House Family Services, Inc., Florida Keys Outreach Coalition, Inc., Fairchild Tropical Gardens, Tacolcy, Take Stock in Children, and many more. He has also worked with county and community organizations that tackle a lot of the above-mentioned issues. These include entities like: Kallari Chocolates (based in Ecuador) and the Fruit & Spice Park.
Growing Hope Initiative (GHI) was his longest partnership. Shortly after joining the organization, he became a team member and did contractual work with the group for 3 years. Growing Hope’s focus was community outreach and welfare with an emphasis on health for underserved communities with an heavy environmental component. During his tenure with GHI, they precured grants and partnered with business and communities to create and run programs for the benefit of lower income populations. Some of these programs included food drives, farming and composting techniques, cooking classes, and nutritional training which were all offered for free (funded by grants and donations).
Two years after joining GHI, the director, Patrick Garvey learned of a property in the Lower Keys named the Grimal Estate. The history and nature of this exotic fruit tree property inspired him to delve deeper into the idea of sustainability. With the help of a partnership with WEYW and Jenna Stauffer, he began seeking out and profiling those that did work in the area of sustainability and conservation.
PATH TO PRESERVATION WAS BORN
“We are what we eat.” “We don’t live on Earth; we are just passing through”. "Earth is what we all have in common". "The world is always changing… adjusting to our existence". "Eat good, feel good"
These are all common clichés, but these are also the genesis of Path to Preservation.
Why should we as individuals care?
We have one world, but ultimately, we are all affected by the condition of it. Fortunately, and unfortunately, we share it as well. The litterer down the street “unfortunately” affects all of us. The 40-year-old man in North Florida that recycles everything from paper to cooking oil also affects us. It stands to reason that we should protect cherish the world. Not just for ourselves but for others.