Shelby Farms interns get a $10,000 boost

The Shelby Farms Park Conservancy's internship program has just signed on with its first corporate sponsor in the program's five-year history. 

 

The $10,000 contribution from Evergreen Packaging, a Memphis-based eco-friendly carton manufacturer, will allow Shelby Farms Park to reach new college students and enrich their internships with educational programming. 

 

Evergreen has also signed on to speak at lunch lectures tailored to the internship pool's interests and majors. 

 

"What's great about this funding and sponsorship through Evergreen Packaging is that this provides greater educational capacity for us. We will serve our interns with expanded educational resources," said Natalie Wilson, Events and Programs Manager for Shelby Farms Park Conservancy. 

 

Through Evergreen Packaging's lunch lectures, the group will teach the students about sustainability, environmental science, workplace development and the difference between nonprofit and for-profit environments. "The interns come here to Shelby Farms Park to grow and learn, and then they leave. This sponsorship assists in experiencing life skills and working hands on."

 

Interns fulfill a variety of roles throughout the park, including helping to develop geographic information system mapping of the park to aid law enforcement and emergency medical services, working in communications and fundraising, and serving in the events and programming, operations and finance departments.

 

Shelby Farms Conservancy is still reviewing applications for interns seeking a semester- or year-long commitment. The minimum contribution is 15 hours a week, but a full-time commitment is highly desired. The nonprofit regularly hires interns for staff positions. 

 

For more information about applying, visit the SFPC website.