Partners Receive Regional and National Awards for Partnership

Partner Receives Award from the National Park Service

Dave Kendall

News Release Date: December 23, 2016 Partnerships play a vital role in protecting and enhancing National Park Service sites and programs. This year The Nature Conservancy was the recipient of two awards, the National Park Service’s Midwest Regional Partnership Award for Excellence in Partnering and the 2016 Director’s Partnership Award by the Office of Partnerships and Philanthropic Stewardship, Washington, D.C. These awards honor the Conservancy for their partnership with the National Park Service at Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve.
These honorary awards recognize nationally significant partnership accomplishments and milestones. Founding Director of the Kansas Chapter of The Nature Conservancy, Alan Pollom, and current State Director, Rob Manes, received honorary recognition for their partnership roles at Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve from National Park Service Director, Jonathan Jarvis.

The national award recognizes The Nature Conservancy for their cumulative partnership accomplishments at two major anniversaries – their 25^th year as a state program in Kansas and 65^th year as a world-wide organization beginning in 1951.
"The hard work and passion of committed individuals joining forces led to the preservation of the country's first public lands and the establishment of the National Park Service in 1916," said National Park Service Director Jonathan B. Jarvis. "The long and storied tradition of citizen stewardship not only continues but grows stronger every year. The partners we recognize today demonstrate the amazing things we can accomplish together."

The Nature Conservancy acquired the predominant portion of the Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve in 2005 because of its exemplary representation of tallgrass prairie and to further the Conservancy’s efforts, through its Flint Hills Initiative, to conserve the larger four-million-acre Flint Hills landscape, the last landscape expression of tallgrass prairie.
As we celebrate the National Park Service Centennial, we reflect upon the outstanding achievements of our partners with deep gratitude. The innovation, leadership, and expertise with which they approach and meet challenges, and the many lives they touch through their initiatives, programs, and activities has led to great achievement and an ever growing community of National Park Service supporters and advocates.

In celebration of the National Park Service 2016 Centennial, Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve invites you to discover the meaning of national parks, how your park inspires you - both in personal connections and memorable experiences. Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve is located two miles north of Strong City on Kansas State Highway 177 (the Flint Hills National Scenic Byway) and is a unique public/private partnership between the National Park Service and The Nature Conservancy. For more information, visit the preserve’s Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/NPS.TallgrassPrairie , website at www.nps.gov/tapr, email e-mail us, or call the preserve at [phone]. 

To learn more about The Nature Conservancy in Kansas, visit the Conservancy’s website at www.nature.org/Kansas or Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/TNCKansas .
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