Polk County Conservation and the Great Outdoors Foundation are collaborating to launch the Conservation Foundation of Polk County, or CFPC, this month, creating an independent organization to raise funds to support Polk County Conservation operations. Before the creation of the CFPC, the Great Outdoors Foundation functioned as the fundraising vehicle for Polk County Conservation. “This collaborative partnership will equate to a strengthened conservation ecosystem, advancing complementary efforts both here in Polk County and across our entire state,” Great Outdoors Foundation CEO Hannah Inman said in a news release. The new foundation will support initiatives such as nature programming, accessible recreation, and prairie restoration. Addison McKown has been hired to lead fundraising efforts for CFPC. During the first three months in her role, McKown has integrated with Polk County Conservation to understand its operations and needs, set a strategic fundraising plan and launched the organization’s website. “This is an exciting, full-circle moment for Polk County Conservation,” Director Rich Leopold said in a prepared statement. “Staff often get asked by park visitors how they can support our…..