Thanking Our Donors for Planting the Roots of Birthright America

When it came time for Birthright America to create donor recognition societies, it seemed only natural to turn to the many exotic and impressive trees found in America's national forests and parks to find inspiration for the names of those societies.

I turned first to my own memories (and photographs) of my family's visits to Washington and California...

Then we researched some of the most rare and impressive trees that can be found in America's national forests, preserves and parks to select the names for the rest of the societies.   Since Birthright America was founded in Florida, with many of our initial donors coming from this state, it also seemed appropriate to have the Mangrove Society represent those early supporters.

Birthright America eventually plans to take students to parks all around the country, so we wanted to be sure to represent trees from a wide variety of places throughout America, so you will find trees found near volcanoes in Hawaii and from a preserve in South Carolina among our named societies.

Finally, since part of our mission is to educate students while providing them with the opportunity to explore their national parks, the chance to provide some interesting facts and information to Birthright America's donors was the final factor considered when selecting each name.

So, without any further ado, a look at the trees inspiring the donor recognition societies:

Mangrove Society: 

Known for offering the first line of protection during a hurricane, mangroves can be found throughout Florida, especially in Everglades National Park.

Sitka Spruce Society:

The staggering Sitka Spruce trees love the damp and mild climate of the Pacific Northwest, making the Hoh Rain Forest the perfect home for them.

'Ohi'a Society:

The 'Ohi'a Lehua (pronunciation can be found here) tree has particular importance in Hawaii and has recently become vulnerable to a fast spreading disease in the past few years.

Education is essential in helping to protect these colorful trees that are usually the first to grow on new lava flows.

Laurel Oaks Society:

Congaree National Preserve is the home of many champions, the largest known tree of its species, including the Laurel Oak.

Lodgepole Pines Society:  

The most common tree found in Yellowstone National Park, the destination for Birthright America's inaugural trip in June of 2018, the lodgepole pine thrives in the sun.

Bristlecone Pines Society:

Considered among the oldest trees on earth, the ones found in Great Basin National Park in Nevada are over 3,000 years old!

Sequoias Society:

Our trip to Yosemite and the iconic California "tunnel tree," in Mariposa Grove, home to the 1800 year old Grizzly Giant, among hundreds of sequoias, made a lasting impression.

Redwoods Society: 

Long considered the most awe-inspiring of the many trees found in national forests, the Redwood can be damaged by "too much love."  Still, appreciating this majestic tree in a way that also preserves it is an experience to be treasured.

Here's to the many donors who are planting the roots that will enable Birthright America to grow and flourish.  Donor Recognition Societies are just one way we can show our gratitude, which is as immense as a champion sequoia.

The Gift of Travel

First, a very Happy Holidays from Birthright America!

If you have read about how and why Birthright America was founded, it will come as no surprise that the image serving as the  picture for our first holiday postcard comes from my family's first trip to Yellowstone and a moment that crystallized for me why the national parks must be shared with all.

Yes, there are certain lands in this country that are protected as public lands, yet that does not mean that they are equally accessible to all the public.  Creating an organization that would make its mission to insure that all America's children can explore their national parks was a dream born as I watched my Floridian children play in the snow, off Beartooth Highway, that June afternoon so many years ago, when Yellowstone in the summer became an impromptu winter wonderland.

Now that we are thick into the planning of Birthright America's inaugural trip to Yellowstone and Grand Teton this coming June of 2018, we are also deep into the fundraising phase.  This morning we received a generous donation from Pediatric Associates, an association of pediatricians that has been serving Florida since I was their patient many decades ago.  My own children have been their patients for the past two decades.

Receiving donations from friends, family, colleagues and professional associates is gratifying beyond measure.  Since nonprofits traditionally have difficulty securing grants during their first couple of years, the philanthropy of individuals and the support and sponsorship of companies becomes the fuel that enables nonprofits to thrive until they can successfully procure grant money in subsequent years.  Therefore, the support of companies such as Pediatric Associates will enable a student who otherwise would not have been able to explore Yellowstone National Park the opportunity to do so.

As you light the candles on the menorah or the kinara, trim the Christmas tree, or celebrate the holiday season in myriad other ways, do consider making philanthropy a part of your holiday tradition.  The Miami Herald's Wish Book has been part of our family's philanthropic tradition for years.  This year, we will add donations to Breakthrough Miami and Birthright America.  

Whether you have supported the same nonprofit for a very long time, look to support new organizations that foster missions in which you deeply believe, or have never before thought to make a donation as part of your holiday giving tradition, perhaps this year you might imagine a young man or woman who has never ventured outside of Miami suddenly coming upon the staggering vistas in Yellowstone and Grand Teton.  What greater gift could you ever give?

Photograph of Grand Teton Range by Schwabacher Landing
by Cynthia Hori, science teacher and chaperone on Birthright America's inaugural trip

We thank you for your support and wish you a very happy holiday season and a joyous New Year!