Tom Yawkey had a deep appreciation for, and desire to protect and conserve, natural resources. This commitment dates back to Tom’s childhood visits to Georgetown, South Carolina, where his uncle, William Yawkey, purchased a small amount of land along the Georgetown shoreline in 1914.
Throughout his childhood, Tom made frequent trips to Georgetown with his uncle, and it was during this time that Tom developed a great love for the outdoors and wildlife. In 1925, Tom purchased the land from his uncle and the other property shareholders in the partnership, acquiring an area that totaled more than 20,000 acres.
Though Tom lived in New York City and Boston, he – together with his wife Jean Yawkey – spent winters in Georgetown County. As an avid outdoorsman and a self-taught ornithologist, Tom spent countless hours researching land management techniques, developing the many skills he learned as an engineering major at Yale University, and using these skills to carefully manage his land. Tom’s diligent stewardship and conservation practices produced a pristine area reserved for waterfowl, turtles, alligators, and other wildlife. Over time, Tom would hire professional wildlife biologists to assist with the management of the property to further develop its research capabilities and educational impact.
Tom donated the land on South, Cat, and North Islands at the time of his death to what is now the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources and established the Yawkey Foundation to ensure the continued management of the vast wildlife preserve.
Currently encompassing more than 24,000 acres and known as the Tom Yawkey Wildlife Center, the area is considered one of the most outstanding grants to wildlife conservation efforts in North America. The Tom Yawkey Wildlife Center includes marshes, marine wetlands, forests, and sandy beaches. In addition, the area hosts hundreds of species of coastal wildlife and serves as an undisturbed habitat for migratory birds, eagles, alligators, and many other endangered species.
The Tom Yawkey Wildlife Center is one of the premier nesting locations for endangered Loggerhead Sea Turtles and is home to the world’s longest running alligator research study. Working in partnership with the Yawkey Foundation, the Tom Yawkey Wildlife Center has developed collaborative research studies with institutions such as Clemson University, the University of South Carolina, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute, Horry-Georgetown Technical College, and many other institutions that use the Wildlife Center as an active and living research laboratory. To learn more about the legacy of Tom Yawkey’s commitment to conservation and wildlife, visit the Yawkey Foundation website.