Traverse City philanthropists Richard and Diana Milock have donated a $1 million gift to Campaign for Generations, the Grand Traverse Regional Land Conservancy’s six-year, $71.4 million capital campaign for land protection.

According to the GTRLC, the gift is unrestricted - meaning it can be used wherever is most needed at the organization. "Such gifts provide GTRLC the ultimate flexibility in determining how to maximize the support," the organization said in a statement.

The Milocks' gift comes after the couple previously provided a substantial loan that enabled GTRLC to secure the proposed Upper Manistee Headwaters Preserve, one of the campaign’s signature projects. In honor of both their recent gift and the earlier conservation loan, GTRLC will name the proposed Upper Manistee Headwaters Preserve in honor of the Milocks. The property will be called Upper Manistee Headwaters: The Milock Family Preserve.

“To receive this level of support from two people so deeply respected in our community is a momentous honor,” says GTRLC Executive Director Glen Chown. “Richard and Diana have already made a major impact by supporting various important causes throughout our region, and we’re both delighted and humbled that they’ve decided to invest in our mission of land protection.”

The Milocks' gift is the latest major gift in the $71.4 million campaign, which includes dozens of projects that will protect farm and natural lands while improving access to nature and outdoor recreation throughout the region. Casey and Dana Cowell also made a $1 million gift to the campaign last fall. Richard Milock, noting the "well-run and well-organized" nature of GTRLC, says he has "full confidence" the organization will make the most of the unrestricted gift.

"I'm in full support of the work the Conservancy is doing, and that work takes money,” he says. “In business it takes money to make money, and it the Conservancy's case it takes money to do what they have to do. We’re glad to help out.”