National Park Foundation Announces $350 Million Centennial Campaign for America's National Parks

LARGEST PARK PHILANTHROPY EFFORT IN THE HISTORY OF THE FOUNDATION HONORS NATIONAL PARK SERVICE'S 100th ANNIVERSARY

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Feb 15, 2016, 09:47 ET

WASHINGTON, Feb. 15, 2016 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Today, the National Park Foundation, the official charity of America's national parks, publicly launched its $350 million Centennial Campaign for America's National Parks, the largest comprehensive fundraising campaign in the history of the organization.

Commemorating the National Park Service's 100^th anniversary, the fundraising campaign was announced in conjunction with an $18.5 million donation from philanthropist David Rubenstein to support the restoration of the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C.

The Foundation has already raised more than $200 million through gifts from individuals, foundations, corporations, and other donors as part of the fundraising campaign's "quiet phase," which began in October 2013. The campaign will continue through September 2018.

The money raised will provide for transformative investments in protecting special places, connecting people from all backgrounds to parks, and inspiring future generations of national park stewards.

"From its establishment in 1916, generous donors have helped the National Park Service innovate, discover, enhance, and achieve a level of excellence that these special places deserve," National Park Service Director Jonathan B. Jarvis said. "As we look ahead to a second century of stewardship, the next generation of philanthropists will help the National Park Service continue to protect, preserve, and share some of America's most special places, which belong to all of us as Americans."

To understand the critical needs across the national park system, the National Park Service and the National Park Foundation worked together to identify priority programs and initiatives in need of funding that, once funded, will strengthen and shape the national parks for the next 100 years. Projects include regional opportunities and large, national-level investments like wildlife conservation, trail rehabilitation, Every Kid in a Park, and the 21^st Century Conservation Service Corps.

"The clear passion to connecting all Americans to these special places is demonstrated by the generous support of this campaign by donors to date," said Will Shafroth, president of the National Park Foundation. "As we celebrate this historic milestone, we must be continually conscious that the grand legacy of America's national parks, and their future relevance and vitality, are dependent on a vibrant and robust public-private partnership."

The Centennial Campaign for America's National Parks is the fundraising complement to the National Park Service and the National Park Foundation's public awareness and education movement commemorating the 100^th anniversary, Find Your Park/Encuentra Tu Parque. Using the 100^th anniversary as a catalyst, the movement is inspiring people from all backgrounds to connect with, celebrate, and support America's national parks and community-based programs. Find Your Park invites people to discover and share their own unique connections to our nation's natural landscapes, vibrant culture, and rich history.

Learn more about the National Park Foundation's Centennial Campaign for America's National Parks.

ABOUT THE NATIONAL PARK FOUNDATION

The National Park Foundation is the official charity of America's national parks and nonprofit partner to the National Park Service. Chartered by Congress in 1967, the National Park Foundation raises private funds to help PROTECT more than 84 million acres of national parks through critical conservation and preservation efforts, CONNECT all Americans with their incomparable natural landscapes, vibrant culture and rich history, and INSPIRE the next generation of park stewards. Find out more and become a part of the national park community at www.nationalparks.org.

MEDIA CONTACT: Alanna Sobel
202-796-2538
[email protected]

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SOURCE National Park Foundation