Fiesta Dinnerware Heir Leaves $9 Million to The Nature Conservancy

by Tracy Chait (RSS feed)
Sep 1st 2008 at 10:02AM

Robert Wells, heir to the Fiesta Dinnerware collection (so embedded in the American consciousness it even became the topic of a recently produced off-Broadway play), has bequeathed $9 million to The Nature Conservancy. His attorney cited Wells's respect for the Conservancy's "wide footprint" after traveling to places like the Chilean coasts, New Zealand and Alaska.

Twenty percent of the gift is earmarked for local conservation efforts in Wells's home state of West Virgina, specifically in the Central Appalachian Mountains. The bulk of the bequest will go towards global programs on behalf of the nature-loving recreational fisherman. The first date he took his wife on in the early 1950s? A 4:30 am catfishing expedition. Carolyn Wells also left a significant gift to the Conservancy following her death in 2005.

Tags: appalachia, fiestaware, fishing, nature conservancy, NatureConservancy, off broadway, OffBroadway, robert wells, RobertWells

Filed under: Charity, Green, Big Givers

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The Ocean Safari ENV.P. A Sep 12th 2008 4:35AM

I install bird and bat houses up he rivers on the north eastern coast of new england also wood duc houses. I think what I do helps to rid the mosquitoes I also clean trash from oceans and rivers. We take donations as we are a non profit organization. We have to get a smaller boat as the one I have will not go to alot a places