National Park Foundation
Encyclopedia
Chartered by Congress, the National Park Foundation (NPF) is the official charity of America’s nearly 400 national parks. Funds contributed to the Foundation are invested directly into the national parks. Working in partnership with the National Park Service, the Foundation helps connect all Americans to the parks, and seeks to ensure that the parks are preserved for the generations who will follow. The National Park Foundation distributes vital grants and program support directly to the national parks across America.
, the National Park Foundation makes grants that connect all Americans with their national parks. The Foundation is deeply committed to engaging the country's youth into a lifelong experience with the parks.
Registration and participation in the Electronic Field Trip is entirely free – which is a wonderful benefit to so many schools that have faced deep budget cuts in recent years. With registration, educators and broadcast partners gain free access to the live broadcast from the national park on the day of the Electronic Field Trip, opportunities for students to ask questions of park rangers during the live broadcast via email, and access to educational materials and games prior to the Electronic Field Trip to prep students.
All of the National Park Foundation's Electronic Field Trips are available for viewing anytime at www.electronicfieldtrip.org
The Flight 93 National Memorial is being planned, designed and built through the collaborative efforts of a unique partnership between family members, federally-appointed commissioners, task force members and federal agencies. The National Park Service acts as the long-term steward of this sacred site. In April 2007, the National Park Foundation was chosen by the Partners of Flight 93 to serve as the lead fundraising partner to implement the national capital campaign, “A Common Field One Day…A Field of Honor Forever”, to build the Flight 93 National Memorial.
The mission of the African American Experience Fund of the National Park Foundation is to connect Americans from all walks of life to the considerable contributions of African Americans throughout history by raising private funds to support educational, volunteer and community engagement programs in national parks and historic sites that celebrate and tell these stories.
The private citizens of the United States appointed by the Secretary of the Interior whose shall serve terms of six years. Members of the Board are volunteer leaders who serve as the Foundation’s chief fundraisers and are active participants in governance and policy overseeing total assets of more than $70 million.
The Foundation does not receive federal appropriations.
Vice Chair Emeriti
Former First Lady Laura Bush
served as Honorary Chair from 2005 - 2009.
Former board members include Dayton Duncan
, John V. Faraci
, General Tommy Franks
, Jamie Gorelick
, Marian S. Heiskell, Robert L. Johnson
, Ignacio E. Lozano, Jr.
, Donald Rumsfeld
, Charles Schwab
, and Roger Staubach
.
Mission statement
The National Park Foundation, in partnership with the National Park Service, enriches America’s national parks and programs through private support, safeguarding our heritage and inspiring generations of national park enthusiasts.National programs and initiatives
Working closely with the National Park ServiceNational Park Service
The National Park Service is the U.S. federal agency that manages all national parks, many national monuments, and other conservation and historical properties with various title designations...
, the National Park Foundation makes grants that connect all Americans with their national parks. The Foundation is deeply committed to engaging the country's youth into a lifelong experience with the parks.
Electronic Field Trips
The National Park Foundation’s Electronic Field Trips turn national parks into classrooms that help students understand and appreciate the complexities of the natural world and of the historic events that have shaped America. Millions of school children around the nation and world have participated in Electronic Field Trips, virtually visiting sites including the Great Smoky Mountains in the fall of 2009, and an upcoming visit to Bryce Canyon in May 2010.Registration and participation in the Electronic Field Trip is entirely free – which is a wonderful benefit to so many schools that have faced deep budget cuts in recent years. With registration, educators and broadcast partners gain free access to the live broadcast from the national park on the day of the Electronic Field Trip, opportunities for students to ask questions of park rangers during the live broadcast via email, and access to educational materials and games prior to the Electronic Field Trip to prep students.
All of the National Park Foundation's Electronic Field Trips are available for viewing anytime at www.electronicfieldtrip.org
Flight 93 National Memorial Campaign
The passengers and crew members of United Airlines Flight 93, whose heroic and selfless acts on September 11, 2001, saved countless American lives, will be forever remembered at the Flight 93 National Memorial, a 2200 acres (8.9 km²) national park. The Memorial will be a place for individuals to learn about the events of September 11, 2001, and to find meaning and inspiration in their experience.The Flight 93 National Memorial is being planned, designed and built through the collaborative efforts of a unique partnership between family members, federally-appointed commissioners, task force members and federal agencies. The National Park Service acts as the long-term steward of this sacred site. In April 2007, the National Park Foundation was chosen by the Partners of Flight 93 to serve as the lead fundraising partner to implement the national capital campaign, “A Common Field One Day…A Field of Honor Forever”, to build the Flight 93 National Memorial.
America's Best Idea Grants
Inspired by Ken Burns’ documentary The National Parks: America’s Best Idea, the National Park Foundation’s America’s Best Idea Grants seek to reach traditionally underserved groups, often communities of color and young people, and empower them to create strong, lasting bonds with their national parks. The spirit of these grants continues the tradition of a diverse American public working together to preserve and enhance the legacy of “America’s Best Idea.”Parks Climate Challenge
The National Park Foundation's Parks Climate Challenge trains high school aged leaders in the science and effects of climate change through an immersion experience in national parks. These young leaders take what they learn in the parks and apply that to their own communities, beginning a ripple effect of learning and enthusiasm for our national parks.African American Experience Fund
National parks are rich with African American history, from historic sites that preserve the legacies of the Tuskegee Airmen and Frontiersmen at Nicodemus, to those that tell the stories of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Mary McLeod Bethune, George Washington Carver and more. These and hundreds of other national parks and historic sites speak to the important role of African Americans in building America.The mission of the African American Experience Fund of the National Park Foundation is to connect Americans from all walks of life to the considerable contributions of African Americans throughout history by raising private funds to support educational, volunteer and community engagement programs in national parks and historic sites that celebrate and tell these stories.
Governance
- Secretary of the InteriorUnited States Secretary of the InteriorThe United States Secretary of the Interior is the head of the United States Department of the Interior.The US Department of the Interior should not be confused with the concept of Ministries of the Interior as used in other countries...
- ex officio (Chair of the Board) - Director of the National Park Service - ex officio (Secretary of the Board)
- no less than six private citizens of the United States appointed by the Secretary of the Interior
The private citizens of the United States appointed by the Secretary of the Interior whose shall serve terms of six years. Members of the Board are volunteer leaders who serve as the Foundation’s chief fundraisers and are active participants in governance and policy overseeing total assets of more than $70 million.
The Foundation does not receive federal appropriations.
Officers
- The Honorable Ken SalazarKen SalazarKenneth Lee "Ken" Salazar is the current United States Secretary of the Interior, in the administration of President Barack Obama. A member of the Democratic Party, he previously served as a United States Senator from Colorado from 2005 to 2009. He and Mel Martinez were the first Hispanic U.S...
, Chairman
- SecretaryUnited States Secretary of the InteriorThe United States Secretary of the Interior is the head of the United States Department of the Interior.The US Department of the Interior should not be confused with the concept of Ministries of the Interior as used in other countries...
, U.S. Department of the Interior- Chris Sullivan, Vice-Chair
- Neil Mulholland, President and CEO
- Jonathan JarvisJonathan JarvisJonathan B. Jarvis is the 18th Director of the United States National Park Service, confirmed by the United States Senate on September 25, 2009. He was serving as regional director for the Pacific West Region when, on July 10, 2009, President Barack Obama nominated Jarvis for the directorship...
, Secretary
- Director, National Park ServiceNational Park ServiceThe National Park Service is the U.S. federal agency that manages all national parks, many national monuments, and other conservation and historical properties with various title designations...
- Charles Peck, Treasurer
Board members
- Nancy W. Adams
- Ellen S. Alberding
- Al Baldwin
- Vin Cipolla
- John C. Cushman, III
- Kirk Dornbush
- Edward W. Easton, Sr.
- Carole Shorenstein HaysCarole Shorenstein HaysCarole Shorenstein Hays is an American theatrical producer. She has produced many award-winning Broadway plays. In additiion to her Broadway endeavors, she is the President of SHN , a theatrical producing company in San Francisco...
- Jeremy Jaech
- Karen A. Johnson
- Jay I. Kislak
- Peter Knight
- Ellen MalcolmEllen MalcolmEllen R. Malcolm is an activist who has had a long career in American politics, particularly in political fundraising. She is an heiress of one of the founders of IBM....
- John L. NauJohn L. NauJohn L. Nau, III is Chairman of the federal Advisory Council on Historic Preservation, and one of its public members, with a term of office: 2001-2009....
, III - Charles Peck
- Roxanne QuimbyRoxanne QuimbyRoxanne Quimby is an American businesswomen notable for founding the Burt's Bees personal care products company with beekeeper Burt Shavitz.Quimby was originally from Lexington, Massachusetts, a daughter of an engineer and salesman father...
- John Seiter
- David Evans ShawDavid Evans ShawDavid E. Shaw is an American managing partner of Black Point Group, a private investment partnership with a concentration in health care and technology...
- Bryan S. Traubert
Vice Chair Emeriti
- Nancy H. Bechtle
- Morton H. Meyerson
- David Rockefeller, Jr.David Rockefeller, Jr.David Rockefeller Jr. is an American philanthropist and an active participant in nonprofit and environmental areas. The eldest son of Margaret "Peggy" McGrath and David Rockefeller, he is a leading fourth-generation member of the prominent Rockefeller family, serving on many boards of the...
Former First Lady Laura Bush
Laura Bush
Laura Lane Welch Bush is the wife of the 43rd President of the United States, George W. Bush. She was the First Lady of the United States from January 20, 2001, to January 20, 2009. She has held a love of books and reading since childhood and her life and education have reflected that interest...
served as Honorary Chair from 2005 - 2009.
Former board members include Dayton Duncan
Dayton Duncan
Dayton Duncan was the writer and co-producer of The National Parks: America's Best Idea documentary produced by Ken Burns, and has also been involved for many years with other series by Burns including The Civil War, Baseball and Jazz...
, John V. Faraci
John V. Faraci
John V. Faraci is the chairman and chief executive officer of International Paper since November 2003. Earlier in 2003, he was elected president of International Paper, and he previously served as executive vice president and chief financial officer from 2000 to 2003. From 1999 to 2000, he was...
, General Tommy Franks
Tommy Franks
Tommy Ray Franks is a retired general in the United States Army. His last Army post was as the Commander of the United States Central Command, overseeing United States Armed Forces operations in a 25-country region, including the Middle East...
, Jamie Gorelick
Jamie Gorelick
Jamie S. Gorelick is an American attorney, presently representing BP. She was Deputy Attorney General of the United States during the Clinton administration...
, Marian S. Heiskell, Robert L. Johnson
Robert L. Johnson
Robert L. Johnson is an American business magnate best known for being the founder of television network Black Entertainment Television , and is also its former chairman and chief executive officer...
, Ignacio E. Lozano, Jr.
Ignacio E. Lozano, Jr.
Ignacio Eugenio Lozano, Jr. is a former United States Ambassador to El Salvador. He was appointed to the ambassadorship by President Gerald Ford in 1976., He resigned the post following the assumption of the presidency by Jimmy Carter....
, Donald Rumsfeld
Donald Rumsfeld
Donald Henry Rumsfeld is an American politician and businessman. Rumsfeld served as the 13th Secretary of Defense from 1975 to 1977 under President Gerald Ford, and as the 21st Secretary of Defense from 2001 to 2006 under President George W. Bush. He is both the youngest and the oldest person to...
, Charles Schwab
Charles Schwab
Charles Schwab may refer to:*Charles M. Schwab , American steel magnate*Charles R. Schwab , founder of the eponymous brokerage*Charles Schwab Corp., an American based brokerage firm...
, and Roger Staubach
Roger Staubach
Roger Thomas Staubach is a businessman, Heisman Trophy winner and legendary Hall of Fame former quarterback for the Dallas Cowboys from 1969 until 1979. Staubach was instrumental in developing the Cowboys into becoming one of the best teams of the 1970s and led the team to nine of the Cowboys'...
.