NEW YORK, NY (September 24, 2008) – The spirit of America’s beautiful, wild places blossomed at Pier 60, Chelsea Piers on Wednesday evening, as the National Park Foundation, charitable partner of the National Park Service  honored Mrs. Laura Bush and Discovery Communications at the Foundation’s annual black-tie “Expedition America!” gala and fundraiser that raised $2.2 million to support the national parks.  Former Governor Pataki was also in attendance, as conservation and nature were celebrated at the beautiful river-front venue.

The National Park Foundation recognized Mrs. Laura Bush with its highest honor, the National Park Foundation Founders Award, for strengthening the connection between the American public and their national parks.  Through pioneering programs like First Bloom and Junior Rangers, Mrs. Bush is working to improve the natural habitats in our parks and urban communities, and nurture a conservation ethic in America’s youngest citizens.

Earlier in the day, Mrs. Bush helped the Foundation make one of its three major investments in New York City to connect urban youth to the environment with a First Bloom celebration at Hamilton Grange National Memorial. Mrs. Bush has been a park enthusiast since her first visit to Carlsbad Canyon as a girl scout. In October 2007, she presided over the National Park Foundation Leadership Summit on Partnership and Philanthropy which resulted in $54 million in new philanthropic support for our parks. She has served as Honorary Chair of the National Park Foundation since 2004.

“We are thrilled to celebrate the outstanding leadership of our Honorary Chair, Mrs. Laura Bush,” said Vin Cipolla, President and CEO of the National Park Foundation. “Through her support, Mrs. Bush has helped us create opportunities for all of America’s children to explore and experience the national parks. It is a wonderful opportunity to recognize someone who has done so much for our country, our parks and as Honorary Chair of the National Park Foundation.”

The National Park Foundation also presented David Zaslav of Discovery Communications with its Corporate Stewardship Award for Discovery’s more than a decade of corporate stewardship for parks, including its new Planet Green initiative that deeply connects citizens to the environment and unites us all in celebrating, preserving and protecting the planet. Since 1996, Discovery has contributed more than $30 million to support the national parks.

“We are proud to honor Discovery for their extraordinary commitment to the national parks,” said Vin Cipolla, President and CEO of the National Park Foundation. “For more than 12 years, Discovery has supported important projects like restoring the Washington Monument, raising funds for the Flight 93 Memorial Campaign, and bringing about a new vision for the National Mall. The company has, and continues to produce captivating programming that connects millions of new citizens to the national parks.”

Regan Gammon, Vice Chair of the National Park Foundation said, “This gala has raised an amazing $2.2 million including a generous contribution from the Bank of America Foundation to help launch education initiatives for the National Parks Centennial. I want to thank all of the individuals and organizations that participated in this evening’s event, the most successful fundraising event in National Park Foundation history.”