The National Park Foundation announced Monday that it had received a 100-million dollar gift from the Lilly Endowment. The non-profit fundraising arm of the National Park Service says that the gift will help pay for programs that enhance the National Park system, such as creating opportunities for young people to visit the parks, conserving threatened ecosystems and wildlife, and tell a more comprehensive version of U.S. History.
The foundation says this includes the “experiences of communities whose voices and contributions have not been fully told as a part of the American story,” and ensures the national park system’s more than 320 million annual visitors have a “world-class” experience.
The National Park Service had a $3.3 billion budget in the 2024 fiscal year, and the 100 million dollar gift is the largest in its history.
The foundation and National Park Service have not released how the funds will be used or dispersed amongst its nearly 400 public lands sites across the country.
The Lilly endowment was created in 1937 by members of the Lilly family – who made their money in pharmaceuticals.
Congress established the first national park in 1872 – a little piece of land called Yellowstone.
The National Park Service was officially created in 1916, and over the subsequent years the list of national parks and monuments continued to grow, hitting the peak of perfection when they established Joshua Tree National Park on October 31st, 1994.
