Donation from longtime Red Sox Owner Tom Yawkey helps preserve 24,000 acres in Georgetown County

GEORGETOWN COUNTY, S.C. (WCBD)–After a generous donation to Georgetown County and the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources, local leaders are working to conserve and educate the public on wildlife and wetlands along the Georgetown Coast. 

Tom Yawkey, former and longtime owner of the Boston Red Sox, donated 20,000 acres to start a wildlife center, one of the most significant land donations in state history. The tour guide said he loved nature and wildlife, inspired by his time spent in coastal Georgetown.

The center spans more than 24,000 acres, provides tours to educate the public, and is home to several species of South Carolina wildlife guides. They said they hope exposing people to the center will encourage them to respect the environment and wildlife more.

“Managing wildlife was always a priority for him. Still, people were always very important because, from his experience being here, he learned an appreciation for wildlife while being here and experiencing it. People are put here to experience the wildlife, and you can’t experience the wildlife if you don’t take care of it first,” said Molly McNeill, the education outreach coordinator for Yawkey Wildlife Center. 

The Tom Yawkey Center is open to the public, but reservations are required to learn more, click the link below: https://yawkeywildlifecenter.com/