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!