Freeport, ME, August 23, 2018
With Multimillion Dollar Commitment, L.L.Bean Becomes a Premier Partner of the National Park Foundation’s Find Your Park/Encuentra Tu Parque Movement
Partnership inspires people to connect with, celebrate, and support America’s national parks and community-based programs
Internationally recognized outdoor retailer L.L.Bean, best known for its legendary customer service and high-quality gear and apparel that help to further people’s enjoyment of the outdoors, is proud to announce it is extending its support of the national parks community with a multi-year, $3 million premier partnership with the National Park Foundation (NPF) for the Find Your Park/Encuentra Tu Parque movement. The movement inspires people of all backgrounds and abilities, including outdoor enthusiasts and novices, to discover and share their own unique connections to America’s national parks.
There are more than 400 national parks in the U.S., and the partnership will raise awareness about park experiences to match all interests, highlighting lesser-known national park sites across the country.
“National parks are some of America’s greatest treasures, and we want to help make it as easy as possible for people to find a memorable adventure. People might be surprised to discover how close many of these parks are,” said Shawn Gorman, L.L.Bean’s Executive Chairman and great-grandson of L.L.Bean. “The outdoors is part of our company’s history, heritage and DNA. Like the National Park Foundation, ours is a legacy rooted in the outdoors that began more than a century ago and will continue long into the future. Both organizations have always been committed to getting people outside, so this partnership makes fantastic sense.”
“L.L.Bean’s investment helps power the movement to connect more people from all walks of life with the natural, cultural, and historical treasures found across the National Park System,” said Will Shafroth, president of the National Park Foundation, the official nonprofit partner of the National Park Service. “Once people discover how accessible these places are, they develop a lifelong passion for exploring and protecting them.”
L.L.Bean has enjoyed a great history of partnering with NPF, including a $1 million donation in celebration of L.L.Bean’s 100th Anniversary in 2012. The donation was used to help bring youth from underserved communities into the parks for a variety of outdoor excursions. In addition, L.L.Bean has provided annual support to the Island Explorer propane bus system in Acadia National Park for many years. In 2016, the company pledged an additional $1 million through 2021 to help provide eco-friendly, free transportation to over three million visitors to the Maine national park. More information on the partnership can be found at www.llbean.com/nationalparks.
About L.L.Bean, Inc.
L.L.Bean, Inc. is a leading multichannel merchant of quality outdoor gear and apparel. Founded in 1912 by Leon Leonwood Bean, the company began as a one-room operation selling a single product, the Maine Hunting Shoe. Still family owned, Shawn Gorman, great grandson of Leon Leonwood Bean, was named Chairman of the Board of Directors in 2013. While its business has grown over the years, L.L.Bean continues to uphold the values of its founder, including his dedication to quality, customer service and a love of the outdoors. In the past five years, L.L.Bean has donated over $6 million toward conservation and land stewardship. L.L.Bean currently operates 40 stores in 17 states across the United States, along with 27 stores in Japan. The 220,000-sq. ft. L.L.Bean retail store campus in Freeport, ME, is open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year and welcomes more than 3 million visitors every year. L.L.Bean can be found worldwide at www.llbean.com, Facebook,Twitter, YouTube, Pinterest, and Instagram.
About The National Park Foundation
Celebrating 50 years, the National Park Foundation is the official charity of America’s national parks and nonprofit partner to the National Park Service. Chartered by Congress in 1967, the National Park Foundation raises private funds to help PROTECT more than 84 million acres of national parks through critical conservation and preservation efforts, CONNECT all Americans with their incomparable natural landscapes, vibrant culture and rich history, and ENGAGE the next generation of park stewards. In 2016, commemorating the National Park Service’s 100th anniversary, the Foundation launched The Centennial Campaign for America’s National Parks, a comprehensive fundraising campaign to strengthen and enhance the future of these national treasures for the next hundred years. Find out more and become a part of the national park community at www.nationalparks.org.