The day after the National Park Service celebrated its 108th anniversary, the National Park Foundation announced an historic $100 million donation from Lilly Endowment Inc. This is the largest single gift received by the NPF and the largest grant benefitting national parks, according to NPF.
NPF was founded in the 1960 as the fundraising arm of the service. Currently, they are running “The Campaign for National Parks.” The $1 billion fundraising campaign aims to address the needs of America’s 430 national park sites.
“For over 50 years, private philanthropy has played a vital role in bridging the gap between park needs and available funding,” said Will Shafroth, president and CEO of the National Park Foundation. “This grant will allow us to supercharge our efforts to ensure our national parks are for everyone, for generations to come.”
NPF reported that they will use the funds in four key areas: Inspire the next generation of park stewards, conserve and preserve threatened parks and wildlife, ensure a world-class visitor experience and tell a more complete story of America.
“The impact of this gift will be felt in our parks and in surrounding communities for generations to come,” added Chuck Sams, director of the National Park Service. “This is a truly visionary investment, and an example of how the power of philanthropy can amplify this crucial work that we all believe in so much.”
One of the key priorities for the donation is supporting Biscayne National Park’s coral reefs, according to the Associated Press. The park is 95% underwater and contains key areas of Florida’s coral reef system. The reef suffered major damage last summer due to high ocean temperatures.
