WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, the National Park Foundation, the official charity of America’s national parks, announced a $400,000 contribution from Aramark to the Foundation’s Centennial Campaign, marking the first corporate sponsorship from a national park concessionaire in support of the National Park Service’s 100th anniversary in 2016.
Aramark, the award winning food and hospitality partner for national and state parks and other leading leisure and cultural attractions across the country, has been a dedicated partner of America’s national parks for more than 40 years. Aramark destinations play host to more than 40 million visitors each year across the United States.
"The National Park Service's centennial will be much more than a celebration of the accomplishments of our first one hundred years; it will be our re-dedication to the places and stories we will share with new audiences in the next 100 years," said Jonathan B. Jarvis, director of the National Park Service. "We appreciate Aramark for standing beside us as a partner for more than 40 years and especially at this exciting time when we look forward to inviting all Americans to 'Find Your Park' during our Centennial year."
“With this great show of early support, Aramark has, once again, made a leadership gift to bolster America’s 401 national parks,” said Neil Mulholland, President and CEO of the National Park Foundation. “We value their dedication to ensuring the viability of our national parks today and for the next 100 years.”
“Aramark has a long history of partnering with the National Park Service to enrich and nourish the experiences of visitors and guests to national parks with innovative hospitality, education and recreation programs,” said Bruce W. Fears, President of Aramark’s Leisure division. “We are committed to helping preserve America’s national parks and are honored to support the National Park Foundation’s Centennial Campaign to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the National Park Service.”
At the center of the Centennial celebration will be a broad public engagement campaign to reintroduce the national parks and the work of the National Park Service to a new generation of Americans, inviting them to visit and get involved. The two-year effort will begin in 2015 and run throughout the National Park Service’s 100th anniversary year in 2016. For more information about the National Park Service’s Centennial, visit www.nationalparks.org/centennial.
About the National Park Foundation
The National Park Foundation is the official charity of America’s national parks and nonprofit partner to the National Park Service. Chartered by Congress in 1967, the National Park Foundation raises private funds to help PROTECT more than 84 million acres of national parks through critical conservation and preservation efforts, CONNECT all Americans with their incomparable natural landscapes, vibrant culture and rich history, and INSPIRE the next generation of park stewards. Find out more and become a part of the national park community at www.nationalparks.org.
About Aramark
Aramark (NYSE: ARMK) proudly serves the world’s leading educational institutions, Fortune 500 companies, world champion sports teams, prominent healthcare providers, iconic destinations and cultural attractions, and numerous municipalities in 19 countries around the world with food, facilities, and uniform services. Because our culture is rooted in service, our employees strive to do great things for each other, our partners, our communities, and our planet. Aramark has been named to DiversityInc’s “Top 50 Companies for Diversity” list, the Forbes list of “America’s Best Employers for Diversity,” the HRC’s “Best Places to Work for LGBTQ Equality” and scored 100% on the Disability Equality Index. Learn more at www.aramark.com and connect with us on Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn.
