Look to Michigan: Sustain What Matters

Annual Giving at the University of Michigan-Dearborn is the collective support of alumni, friends, faculty, staff, and community members who give each year to make a difference. These gifts provide flexible funding for scholarships, programs, and student experiences, helping the university respond to immediate needs and create opportunities for student success.

We are proud to highlight the UM-Dearborn Environmental Interpretive Center Support Fund as our featured fund, advancing environmental education and experiential learning opportunities.

For a quarter-century, the Environmental Interpretive Center (EIC) has welcomed students, families, and community members to explore nature, engage in hands-on education, and build a deeper understanding of our environment. From schoolchildren observing wildlife to volunteers tending the Community Organic Garden and supporting the PolliNation Project, the EIC has touched countless lives and nurtured a lasting love for the natural world.

To honor this milestone, we have launched our “25 for 25”, a campaign to raise $25,000 to ensure the EIC continues to thrive as a living classroom, community hub, and sanctuary for learning and conservation. 

This campaign is about preserving more than land. It is about protecting access to hands-on, place-based education that sparks curiosity, builds understanding, and strengthens our region for the future. 

The Celebrate Earth Day to Birthday: 25 Years of the Environmental Interpretive Center took place on May 16, 2026.

This is an open-house event featuring a cultural presentation with Hadassah GreenSky, an EIC history talk by Rick Simek, and a bird song and music program with guest Andy Jarema. Enjoy guided outdoor walks and hands-on activities including birding, a pond program, and more.