August 12, 2014 - On the evening of Sunday, June 29th, Director Jarvis presented the Director’s Partnership Award to the Yosemite Conservancy.
Mike Tollefson, president and CEO of Yosemite Conservancy, accepted the award. He was joined at the event by Jerry Edelbrock, vice president of the conservancy, and Philip Pillsbury, chair of the conservancy’s board of trustees.
The special presentation occurred at a Yosemite Conservancy dinner kicking off the many events that the park conducted on June 30th to mark the 150th anniversary of the signing of the Yosemite Grant. Yosemite Conservancy received the award for their sustained support of Yosemite National Park through their philanthropic efforts.
On Monday, June 30th, as part of the 150th commemoration, ceremonial golden sledgehammers were swung as the groundbreaking for the Mariposa Grove Restoration Project. This $36 million landmark project includes a $20 million capital campaign being conducted by the conservancy. The project will remove parking lots, construct trails, and restore natural processes to the famed giant sequoia grove.
Since 1998, Yosemite Conservancy has contributed over $81 million dollars to fund projects and programs in Yosemite National Park, including annual funding for park programs and projects that have a positive impact on the visitor experience and foster a better park connection.
To date, Yosemite Conservancy has completed over 450 projects throughout the park. Examples of park projects include trail restoration, plant species restoration, wildlife protection (including proposed reintroduction of Sierra Nevada bighorn sheep), scientific research, and teaching under-served youth the ideas of conservation and stewardship of national parks.
Specific park projects completed recently include a redesign of the Tunnel View area, completion of the Yosemite Valley trails project, Lower Yosemite Fall restoration, new gates at Tioga Pass, a redesign of the Olmsted Point Overlook, and many park educational programs .
The conservancy traces its roots back to the founding of the Yosemite Association in 1923. This was the first cooperating association within the national park system.
Submitted by Scott Gediman
