Glacier Conservancy scores with fund-raising efforts

The Glacier National Park Conservancy just wrapped up a big period of fundraising for Glacier National Park as the official philanthropic partner for the park.

As of July 27, Smith’s Grocery in both Columbia Falls and Kalispell concluded a month-long “Round Up for Glacier” campaign, raising over $9,000 to benefit field-trip transportation to the park for school children.

On Aug. 2, the conservancy held its Backpacker’s Ball at Green Valley Ranch in Coram. The event brought in nearly $150,000 in support for the park, well exceeding a $120,000 goal. The amount includes $54,000 raised specifically for Glacier Park education programs, with $20,000 of that provided by BNSF Railway, which offered a matching challenge to those attending the event.

Also on Aug. 2, more than 150 businesses participated in a region-wide One Day for Glacier campaign. The conservancy will tally the funds raised during the campaign over the next two weeks as businesses return their donation envelopes. This is the first year for the One Day for Glacier campaign, and the conservancy intends to broaden the scope of it even further next year.

“The combined commitment of our community businesses like Smith’s Grocery and those that participated in One Day for Glacier, along with our donors who attended the Backpacker’s Ball, have set the park up to accomplish some very important work in the coming year,” said Mark Preiss, the conservancy’s president.

The conservancy will soon kick off its fall campaign, focusing on critical 2015 funding priorities for the park.

The Backpacker’s Ball was sponsored by BNSF Railway, the conservancy’s board of directors, Xanterra, Kootenai Resource Corp., Glacier Bank, the Daily Inter Lake, Sportsman & Ski Haus, Soka Pilwa Foundation, West Glacier Mercantile, Fun Beverage, First Interstate Bank, Whitefish Credit Union, Washington Corporations, The Health Center and Plum Creek.