Liberty Foundation established a partnership with Friends of Virgin Islands National Park to help promote environmental protection and education efforts in the territory. The initiative includes a $15,000 sponsorship from Liberty Foundation to support the organization’s programs which are aligned with the foundation’s pillar to support environmental protection. The collaboration was announced during Friends of Virgin Islands National Park’s Earth Day Celebration at Franklin Powell Park in St. John.
“We have a duty to protect our natural resources to preserve the health and well-being of present and future generations. This is why we include environmental protection as one of our pillars at the foundation,” said Naji Khoury, president of Liberty USVI and the Liberty Foundation. “The work that Friends of Virgin Islands National Park is doing to preserve and educate on the environmental treasures of the territory is valuable and we want to support that mission.”
The Earth Day Celebration is an annual environmental fair organized by Friends of Virgin Islands National Park for school-age children in St. John to teach them about environment protection and sustainability in the USVI. The activity’s theme this year was “Reduce the Waste. Leave No Trace. Save the Place.”
The Earth Day Celebration presented a roster of events that included a Litter Stomp Parade, an Earth Day poster competition and a book giveaway. Guests were able to visit booths on coral reef protection, Cruz Bay history, recycling, and face painting.
Liberty Foundation is also sponsoring other Friends of Virgin Islands National Park events such as the Annual Folk Life Festival held in February, and the upcoming Beach-to-Beach Power Swim on May 29.
In addition, Liberty Foundation funded the $7,000 grant that Community Foundation of the Virgin Islands recently gave to Friends of Virgin Islands National Park. These funds will be used to train the next generation of culture bearers in the art and history of the Moko Jumbie.
“We are very grateful to Liberty Foundation for this partnership, which will enable us to continue the work that we do to protect our natural and cultural resources,” said Tonia Lovejoy, executive director of Friends of Virgin Islands National Park. “With this partnership we look forward to expanding our programs and connecting with our community.”
Friends of Virgin Islands National Park is the official philanthropic partner of Virgin Islands National Park in St. John. The nonprofit entity supports the National Park Service’s efforts to protect the park’s natural resources and preserve the territory’s cultural treasures housed in the park. The organization also conducts volunteer and education programs to connect visitors and community members to the park.