The Forest Lawn Heritage Foundation, Inc., is a charitable 501(c)3 organization established in 1992 to assure the ongoing preservation and care of Forest Lawn’s historically significant buildings, landmarks, arboretum and landscape, and the Margaret L. Wendt Archive and Resource Center. In 2024, this charitable mission was expanded to be inclusive of all fourteen cemeteries that comprise the Forest Lawn Cemetery Group across Western New York.
The Foundation also helps educate teachers, students and the public about the vast cultural, historical, and natural resources within the cemeteries of the Forest Lawn Group. We offer tours, workshops, lectures, theatrical performances and exhibitions that highlight Forest Lawn’s rich history, art, architecture, landscapes and preservation efforts.
The Foundation’s focus includes ongoing care of the landscapes, educational resources for lot holders and visitors, as well as investments to enhance to our historic and sacred grounds.
We are gratefully accepting tax-deductible donations.
Forest Lawn Heritage Foundation Directors
- Charles F. Kreiner, Jr., Chair
- JoEtte Mosey Zaccagnino, Treasurer
- William Pearce, Jr., Secretary
- John Edens
- Kurt L. Rich
- James M. Wadsworth
- Hugh M. Russ
Officers
- Julie R. Snyder, Chief Executive Officer
Scajaquada Creek Restoration & Community Access Project
Scajaquada Creek, which daylights in Forest Lawn and meanders through it, is part of the Niagara River watershed, making it one of the region’s most important waterways. But it is also one of its most threatened waterways, as decades of land-use development, urban pollution, combined sewer overflows and other human disturbances have taken a significant toll on the creek, reducing water quality and damaging the health of the ecosystem.
The good news is that through a unique partnership with a diverse group of private benefactors, cultural, civic and governmental institutions a major project to clean up the portion of Scajaquada Creek that runs through Forest Lawn was recently completed. It required an investment of $7 million and took nearly 10 years to complete.
Landscape Renewal Plan
The 2006 “October surprise” storm resulted in the loss of 700 of Forest Lawn’s trees in a single night, as well as successive losses over the years from weather events, the spread of Dutch Elm disease in the 1970’s and other diseases have altered the character of the landscape and requires renewal.
With the support of a generous grant from The John R. Oishei Foundation, Forest Lawn has taken on an ambitious research project and delivered The Forest Lawn Landscape Renewal Plan.
Its primary objective is to restore the cemetery’s unique historic landscape. The plan sets a clear course for the restoration of trees and the enhancement of overall landscape character. The phased replanting of the tree collection and woodland canopy will return the forest to Forest Lawn. This is anticipated to be a 12-year project that will cost nearly $6 million to complete.
