Help the California State Parks Foundation — Give Before December 31 and Your Gift Will Be Doubled

As you all know, I’m a big fan of hiking in California State Parks and helping to keep them open and ready for visitors. The California State Parks Foundation is an on-the-ball organization that’s doing great work on many levels to protect our state parks.

The CSPF just sent out this important announcement. Please read and give whatever you can:

While we made historic progress in 2010, the challenges for the coming year are formidable, and now is not the time to let our guard down in protecting our state parks.

As we approach 2011, your contribution of $20, $50, or even $100 to California State Parks Foundation can go even further.

That’s because the California State Parks Foundation Board of Trustees and the Donner Foundation have issued a matching gift challenge to all people who support our state parks. Any gift you make between now and December 31, 2010 will be matched dollar for dollar!

As a result of budget cuts, Californians are rapidly losing access to state parks, and many parks have almost reached a breaking point of irreversible damage.

Last year’s funding cuts had dramatic impacts on our state parks:

• 46 parks were forced to reduce the days they’re open.
• 44 parks were forced to close campsites or loops.
• 50 parks were forced to shutter restrooms.
• 83 parks were forced to decrease cleaning operations.
• 26 parks were forced to lay off lifeguards.
• 20 parks were forced to cut education programs for our schoolchildren.

Unfortunately, we can expect to see these same cuts this year and the effects to the state parks will only get worse. So please, stand up for your state parks by giving the most generous year-end gift you can before December 31, 2010, and it will be matched dollar for dollar.

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