Glacier Conservancy event raises $275,000 brings in big bucks

The Glacier National Park Conservancy raised more than $275,000 at its annual Backpacker’s Ball on Aug. 1, an increase of more than $100,000 over last year.

The Conservancy is the philanthropic and outreach partner of Glacier Park that invests in preservation, education and research that enrich the Glacier experience.

Nearly 300 people attended the fundraiser at the Green Valley Ranch in Coram.

Money raised includes $72,600 brought in through a Live Drive, a portion of the fundraising evening that supports one specific project. The Live Drive also raised more money this year, bringing in about  $18,600 more than last year.

This year the Live Drive proceeds will directly support children’s education programs in the park, including an initiative announced earlier this year by President Obama that strives to create the next generation of park stewards by getting every fourth-grader in America into a park. These funds will be fully matched by the BNSF Railway Foundation and the Glacier National Park Conservancy.

Earlier this year, Glacier Park submitted grant requests for 48 projects to the Conservancy for funding consideration, totaling more than $2 million and highlighting ambitious and new strategies in preservation, education and research.

 The Glacier National Park Conservancy will soon kick off its fall fundraising campaign, including Day for Glacier, to focus on additional critical park projects and programs for 2016.

The year the Conservancy is supporting 38 projects in Glacier National Park including Glacier Youth Corps, the rehabilitation of the first mile of the Highline Trail, reconstruction of the Trail of the Cedars, and Native America Speaks.