love about Catalina at the Conservancy Ball
Andrew's connection to Catalina Island began long before he and Annie were together. From 2010 to 2014, he lived on the Island, and the experience reshaped the course of his life. That kind of transformation leaves a mark, and Andrew knew he wanted to stay connected to the place that gave it to him. The Catalina Island Conservancy became the natural home for that ongoing commitment.
Annie had visited the Island only once before she and Andrew started dating, but once they were together, Catalina became a shared ritual. They return at least once a year, drawn back by everything the Island offers.
What keeps pulling them in is the Conservancy's mission itself. Both Andrew and Annie are drawn to education in their own professional lives, Annie at Cal State, Channel Islands and Andrew in grant work for education at the Santa Barbara Museum of Art, so it's no surprise that a Conservancy-led tour left a lasting impression. Seeing Ironwood propagation up close, learning how the Island's foxes are protected, and understanding the role volunteers play in managing invasive plants gave them a real, ground-level understanding of the science and stewardship happening every day on Catalina.
tour with Conservation leadership that received their winning bid during
the 2025 Conservancy Ball Live Auction
That respect for the science is part of what makes this the right moment for their Ironwood Society support. There's a palpable sense of momentum and enthusiasm around the Conservancy's work right now, and Andrew and Annie feel strongly that when the science points somewhere, it deserves to be followed. Otherwise, what's the point of assembling such a talented team of scientists in the first place? Education and conservation are the threads that matter most to them, the outcomes they most hope their support will help sustain over time.
For a couple still in their mid-30s, choosing to make a planned gift now is itself a statement. It's a way of declaring long-term belief, not just in a place, but in the mission, the people carrying it out, and the legacy the Conservancy is building for the broader community. Andrew and Annie see many ways to show support for something you love. For them, joining the Ironwood Society was one of the clearest ways to put that belief into action.