Eastern National to Resume Direct Donations to National Park Partners
Participants in EN grant-funded programs find their park at Salem Maritime NHS. Photo: NPS
This summer Eastern National will resume providing direct donations to national parks as we recover from the economic impact of the global pandemic. In July 2022, through a pilot aid to parks program, we provided direct donations totaling $1.5 million to more than 130 units of the National Park Service, to support the interpretive, educational, scientific, and historical projects and programs that the NPS determines are needed for their sites and are consistent with its mission.
“During the global pandemic, the EN team worked tirelessly to continue fulfilling Eastern National’s mission of promoting the public’s understanding and support of America’s national parks by providing quality educational experiences, products, and services. Our ability to resume donations to our National Park Service partners is a critical milestone in our recovery” says Kevin C. Kissling, President & CEO. “Visitation to national parks has significantly increased over the last two years. Many people are visiting our parks to take time to connect with nature and learn more about our history. The ability once again to provide financial support for interpretive and educational programs comes at an important time for our park partners, and we are thrilled to pilot resumption of our aid to parks program.”
Through the years, Eastern National’s support to America’s national parks has enabled the purchase of critical items such as artifacts, media for park libraries, period costumes for living history demonstrations and reenactments, exhibits, facility renovations and upgrades, interpretive tools and programs, staff training programs, and much more. Since our founding in 1947, we have provided over $171 million in direct and in-kind aid to national parks.