If the Blue Ridge Parkway were to rely on Federal funding alone, people would not be able to enjoy a lot of services and features available to the general public today. Learn more about current fundraising efforts and needs for the Parkway. Be inspired by others who have dedicated time and monies to protecting America’s Favorite Drive. You may be able to help through word of mouth, giving of your time, or even with a donation.
Vote now and help the Blue Ridge Parkway receive $100,000 from Coca-Cola! This summer, Coca-Cola is again showing its love for parks by holding the 2nd annual vote for your favorite park competition! This year the top three parks will be honored with grants totaling $175,000. First place is granted $100,000, second place $50,000, and third place $25,000. These grants are made possible by the Coca-Cola Live Positively initiative – www.livepositively.com.
Want to make sure the Blue Ridge Parkway gets that grant? Vote as many times as you can between now and September 6th, and be sure to tell your friends and family to vote too!
VOTE NOW!
Vote now and help the Blue Ridge Parkway receive $100,000 from Coca-Cola! This summer, Coca-Cola is showing its love for parks by granting $100,000 to the park that receives the most votes at www.livepositively.com. Plus, for every vote, Coca-Cola will donate $1 to National Park Foundation.
Want to make sure the Blue Ridge Parkway gets that grant? Vote as many times as you can between now and August 31, and be sure to tell your friends and family to vote too!
VOTE NOW!
Common Question:
I have heard about the Blue Ridge Parkway Foundation, Who are they and what do they do?
Read more »
Cone Bass Lake Restrooms Are Priority Resource Provided Through Partnership of Blue Ridge Parkway Foundation, Blue Ridge Parkway, Town of Blowing Rock and Generous Donors
What happens when well over 300 people come together with one single mission?
It’s spelled S U C C E S S for the project and R E L I E F for those who will benefit from its service. Read more »
Pictured from left to right, Houck Medford, executive director of the Blue Ridge Parkway Foundation; Becky Smucker, president of the Carolina Mountain Club; Willa Mays, director of development for the Blue Ridge Parkway Foundation; Jeff Brewer, president of the FMST; Don Walton, sectional trail chief for the Carolina Mountain Club; and Kate Dixon, executive director of FMST.
When I was growing up in Waynesville, it was easy to recognize and know the people that were doing things because that was all they talked about — and in this particular case it was a couple known by Doris (Dr. Doris) and Frank (Dr. Frank) Hammett. The perpetual topic was the Balsam Highlands Task Force without it’s other descriptors — more specifically the Balsam Highlands Task Force of the Friends of the Mountains to Sea Trail. Whew! I guess you are getting the picture but I grew up in the Balsams and they certainly seemed fine to me. Why would they even need a task force? I am convinced at this point of my life that the task was to join Dr. Doris in “combating the park service” and whoever else that might need to be “forced” or coerced to bend to her will to put a trail that was to have stretched from Clingman’s Dome in the Smokies to Jockey’s Ridge at Manteo exactly where she wanted it. Much of this trail was to be along the Blue Ridge Parkway. And her primary partner in this venture is the founder, mentor to Dr. Frank and Dr. Doris, and still going strong at the age of 83 Allen DeHart.
This group has made mountainous strides with enough “tasks forces”to blanket the state and now for the first time in its history, a full-time and very capable executive director, Kate Dixon.
Want to volunteer by building a trail, spending time on the Blue Ridge Parkway, and being associated with a wonderful group of people? FMST would be a great place to start.
