The Bahamas National Trust has bestowed its highest honour, the Legend Award, on The Bob & Jeanne Coughlin Foundation with BNT Chairman Joanne Smith calling the Coughlins “conservation legends, the greatest friends of the environment the Bahamas National Trust has.”
“We are so grateful for what Bob and Jeanne (Coughlin) have done for the environment,” said Smith. “Their extraordinary dedication has enabled the Trust to safeguard and operate the Moriah Harbour Cay National Park, preserving and protecting 22,833 acres of pristine beaches, sand dunes, coral reefs and vital mangrove ecosystems. They get it, they understand what it takes and are so generous. They are great advocates for the environment.”
The award was presented to the Coughlins during the BNT’s recent annual general meeting – the same meeting at which BNT announced King Charles had accepted the role of patron of the organization that manages 33 national parks.
For Bob Coughlin, founder of Paycor, a U.S.-based human capital management and software company, and developer of Exuma’s Turtlegrass Resort & Island Club, this recognition carries special meaning. Alongside his wife, Jeanne, Bob has been a longtime supporter of The Bahamas and its people. While he has received recognition throughout his business career and philanthropic journey, this honour from the Bahamas National Trust is particularly close to both of their hearts.
“Jeanne and I are grateful and humbled to receive this recognition from the Bahamas National Trust. It is truly special, particularly because we care so deeply about The Bahamas and its extraordinary natural environment,” Coughlin shared.
“The real measure of success is not the awards or recognition any of us receive. It is whether we can inspire more people to understand that they have a role to play in protecting what makes The Bahamas so remarkable. These natural resources belong to all Bahamians, and their future depends on all of us,” he added.
In the years since the Coughlins have made Exuma their home, their donations to the Bahamas National Trust have exceeded $1.2 million. This year alone, the Coughlin Foundation approved a donation of $600,000 to The Bahamas National Trust, to be disbursed over three years.
Among the areas most impacted by the Coughlins’ support of the BNT is the Moriah Harbour Cay National Park in Exuma. Park Manager, Catherine Booker, describes the park as both a critical nursery habitat and a busy corridor for everything from tiny larval lobsters to big hammerhead sharks to pass from the north to the south of the islands. It’s also becoming one of the most popular destinations for visitors to the island.
Funding from the Coughlin Foundation helped operationalize the park and ensure that the park’s 22,833 acres remain protected, while deepening community engagement through education and outreach. One of the key goals is to encourage more Bahamians to take pathways into conservation careers.
“Without the foundational support from the Coughlins we would definitely not be where we are today with park operations. The consistent and generous donations from the Coughlins since 2021 have helped us to establish and maintain our education and management efforts for Moriah Harbour Cay National Park,” Booker reiterated.
In The Bahamas,The Bob & Jeanne Coughlin Foundation has contributed to numerous youth development, environmental preservation and community efforts, including recent grants to the refurbishment of St. Luke’s Clinic in Staniel Cay (Exuma) and the Harbour Island Green School. Additionally, the Coughlins support Friends of Exuma and important philanthropic partners.
“We strive to do the right things and build long-lasting partnerships,” said Foundation President Stacey Browning, echoing Bob and Jeanne Coughlin’s mindset. “The commitment the Coughlin family has to The Bahamas, its environs and its people, is clear, and amplified by continued support of BNT and its important mission.”
