This year's Director's Partnership Award recipients exemplify how, through collaboration at the local, regional and national level, National Park Service partners and employees can work together to move through challenges and attain powerful results.
Their success has been achieved through years of thoughtful planning and creative collaboration. They have each laid a solid foundation. A foundation that insures the preservation and connections we have to our shared heritage; a foundation that enhances National Park Service partner and community collaboration; and, through art and the creative process, a foundation from which we can view, understand and experience the world.
Please join us in celebrating the success and achievements of the 2019 Director's Partnership Award Recipients.
Their success has been achieved through years of thoughtful planning and creative collaboration. They have each laid a solid foundation. A foundation that insures the preservation and connections we have to our shared heritage; a foundation that enhances National Park Service partner and community collaboration; and, through art and the creative process, a foundation from which we can view, understand and experience the world.
Please join us in celebrating the success and achievements of the 2019 Director's Partnership Award Recipients.
NPS
The Saint-Gaudens Memorial
100 years of foresight, preservation, dedication, and engagement; The Saint-Gaudens Memorial has preserved and shared the life and legacy of Augustus Saint Gaudens from 1919-2019. From 1919-1965, prior to the establishment of Saint-Gaudens National Historical Park, The Saint-Gaudens Memorial owned and operated the home and studio of Augustus Saint-Gaudens as a historic site, museum and living memorial; constructing a gallery complex, redesigning the formal gardens and establishing exhibits and public programs still in place today. Through the years, The Saint Gaudens Memorial has created opportunities for all to explore and connect to Augustus Saint-Gauden's art, through expression of their own creative processes during workshops; by showcasing his work nationally and internationally through documentary film and major museum shows, and through partnerships with 25 parks who now permanently display his work.
NPS
Stephen A. Briganti, President and CEO, The Statue of Liberty - Ellis Island Foundation
Under the exceptional leadership of Stephan Briganti, The Statue of Liberty -Ellis Island Foundation transformed how millions of people each year experience the Statue of Liberty National Monument. Between 1982 and 2001, Mr. Briganti brought to fruition two large-scale projects, a $700 million-dollar campaign to restore the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island and construct museums at both sites; and a $30 million dollar campaign to open the American Family Immigration History Center. On May 16, 2019, the opening of The Statue of Liberty Museum was celebrated. The museum, containing artifacts, a theater, and multi-media displays, allows all 4.3 million annual visitors access to an engaging learning experience. As stated by John Piltzecker, Superintendent, Statue of Liberty National Monument, Mr. Briganti’s “consultation with professional historians, exhibit designers, media specialists, architects and preservation specialists, and the National Park Service, define him as a true friend of the National Park Service and the resources we are charged with preserving, protecting and making accessible to the public.”
NPS/Gray
Knife River Indian Heritage Foundation
The Knife River, a crossroads rich in Native American history and culture, remains so today due to the long-term efforts of Knife River Indian Heritage Foundation. Since its founding, Knife River Indian Heritage Foundation, has worked hard to secure preservation and protection of the archeological history and heritage of the Knife River area. They achieved success in 1974 when the 1292-acre Knife River Indian Villages National Historic Site was established. In 1999, the foundation board, together with the Mandan, Arikara, and Hidatsa Tribes, established a formal partnership with the Three Affiliated Tribes Museum in New Town, ND, insuring an integrated approach to promoting preservation and public understanding of the site and region. Through the years, they have shaped the experiences of visitors and community members alike; through their construction of an Interpretive Center and the 7 Trails Trading Post and their support of Kids Camps and special events.
NPS
Jeffrey Reinbold, Superintendent, National Mall and Memorial Parks
As former Assistant Director of Partnerships and Civic Engagement, Jeff Reinbold strengthened and promoted National Park Service partnerships and partnership programs. Jeff shepherded the update of Director’s Order#21, which lays the foundation for how NPS partners and employees collaborate and develop formal relationships. His alignment of the Tourism Office within the Partnerships Directorate enhanced collaboration between the two sectors. Jeff was instrumental in the success of the 2016 National Park Service Centennial Campaign, serving as liaison to the National Park Foundation. The campaign raised $550 million dollars. For the 50th Anniversary of the Wild and Scenic Rivers and The National Trails System Acts, Jeff was a key organizer of the partner networks which produced anniversary activities and raised the profile of these natural wonders. As stated by the former President of the Friends Alliance, Deb Yandala, “Jeff is viewed as a colleague and friend to the partner community across the country. His leadership has truly made a difference in the growth of the number of NPS partners and in their increase in sophistication and support for national parks”.
Read about the 2017 Director's Partnership Award Recipients
Last updated: November 8, 2019