Volunteer Spotlight, Hillsborough River Preservation Society
Hillsborough River Preservation Society is the recipient of the 2022 Citizen Support Organization of the Year for Cultural Resources.
The Hillsborough River State Park Preservation Society members work diligently to assist park rangers. The members proudly provide avenues for community members to be involved in caring for the natural and cultural resources at the park.
The 29th Annual Haunted Woods event of 2022 drew nearly 4,000 visitors to the park and raised more than $40,000. This dedicated team works hard.
Congratulations to the Hillsborough River State Park Preservation Society. Your efforts are appreciated.
Chris Beisler is the recipient of the 25 Years of Service Award.
Chris Beisler has been visiting and camping at Hillsborough River for the last 30 years. He and his wife, Tamera, have visited the park many times with their children.
For nearly 30 years, Chris has been a member of the Hillsborough River State Park Preservation Society. In 2022, he joined the board as vice president.
In 2022, Chris served as committee chairman for the park’s 28th Annual Haunted Woods event. Five months before the event, he started recruiting volunteers and making assignments. He promoted the event by posting flyers at convenience stores around the Tampa area.
Chris contributed use of his personal equipment to the event, including soda machines (and the syrup), grills, freezers, storage trailers, DJ equipment, decorations and more. He and his crew set up and tore down the entire setup independently, taking extra care to ensure that our natural and cultural resources remain unharmed.
With more than 200 volunteers, the two-day event featured spooky scenes on the Haunted Trail, fun and games, and food and soft drinks.
The Haunted Woods annual event is the main fundraiser for the CSO and has been for the past 20 years. With Chris’s guidance and energy, the event was a roaring success, producing over $40,000 in revenue in 2022.
Congratulations, Chris. Your dedication is appreciated.
