Glacier National Park Conservancy (GNPC) announced that for the seventh consecutive year, Smith’s Food & Drug Centers in Columbia Falls and Kalispell will sponsor “Round-Up for Glacier”, running now through July 26th. Customers will be asked to “round-up” their grocery bill to support field trips to Glacier National Park. All donations will fund transportation to Glacier National Park for local schools with limited travel budgets.
Smith’s Neighbor to Neighbor Program will provide a matching grant of up to $2,500. This year’s goal is to raise $10,000, which will fund field trip opportunities for 2,000 students from school districts that surround the park during the 2015-2016 school year.
“Glacier National Park’s educational programs provide opportunities to seamlessly connect classroom learning with hands-on discovery in the park for Montana students,” said Glacier Conservancy president Mark Preiss. “From Winter Ecology on Snowshoes to first grade’s Wild Animals, Wild Places, these experiences help students form lasting bonds with the park.”
Smith’s Round Up is an important piece of the Glacier education program, providing needed funding for transportation that would otherwise not be available. “Thanks to Smith’s and each of their customers who prioritize park-based learning opportunities and donate funding to make Glacier field trips possible.” said Preiss, “Five dollars is all that’s needed to send each child to the park for a once-in-a-lifetime experience.”
Smith’s is a division of the Kroger Co. (NYSE:KR), one of the nation’s largest grocery retailers. From its division office in Salt Lake City, Smith’s operates 124 stores in seven western states, including four in Montana. For more information about Smith’s go to www.smithsfoodanddrug.com.
Glacier National Park Conservancy is the official fundraising partner of Glacier National Park and through the support of the community, provides funding for vital projects and programs that preserve and protect the park. In 2015, GNPC is supporting 40 projects in Glacier National Park including Glacier Youth Corps, Native America Speaks and the rehabilitation of the Highline Trail and the Avalanche Lake shoreline. Learn more atglacierconservancy.org .
