The Bruce Hendry Family is a fifth generation pioneer family. Descendents of Captain F. A. Hendry, founder of Labelle and Hendry County, Fla. we have lived on our working cattle ranch for the last 25 years and have watched the surroundings areas become ecologically impacted by citrus and farming, causing loss of natural habitat. 

There are extensive and diverse wildlife populations that utilize the entire area of our project. These populations consist of panther, white tailed deer, wild turkeys, black bear, bob white quail, and mourning doves. Also included are large populations of wading birds, primarily wood stocks, egrets, ibis and herons.

The threats to the project area are very real and immediate. The entire area is under extreme pressure from the citrus and row crop industry from conversion to groves or farm fields.

The continued expansion of the movement into the area will allow for further habitat fragmentation and the destruction of native habitats.

Time is indeed running out to achieve a lasting conservation result on our project area just north of the Big Cypress - not just for the Florida Panther, but for many other species of wildlife that require large natural landscapes.

The purpose of this Foundation is to work as a conduit in providing a wildlife refuge in a natural wilderness setting, to protect the natural habitats of endangered wildlife, and to provide scholarships to deserving individuals entering professions/fields related to our exempt status.

Properties under consideration for refuge use are in Southwest Florida, and contain the preferred habitat (hammocks, wetlands, saw palmetto) of the Florida panther and black bear, wildlife considered as endangered and/or threatened. The property would also be home to deer, turkey, sand hill cranes, and other species of wildlife.

Funds raised through activities of the Foundation will be directed to the costs of land preservation and management, including water quality projects, and wildlife feeders,  tree cameras for tracking the panthers, boardwalks for tours and scholarships for local youth.

We have recently assisted several joint water quality projects with the Hendry Soil & Water Conservation District and South Florida Water Management District under the Everglades Forever Act.