New Mexico State Parks Foundation
Announces Launch of New Website
ALBUQUERQUE – Gerald
E. Weinstein, Chairman and Consuelo T. Chavez, Executive
Director of the New Mexico State Parks Foundation announced
to launch of the newly created New Mexico State Parks
Foundation website (www.nmstateparksfoundation.com).
“ Our mission is to become a viable partner with New Mexico State Parks
and the state’s communities in our efforts to protect natural resources,
promote tourism, education and to provide outstanding recreational opportunities,” said
Chavez. “We love New Mexico and want to help support the places we value
most. State Parks are some of this state’s most precious, relevant places.
They are home.”
The
website will offer information on opportunities to
get involved and help support the New Mexico State
Park system. The site includes foundation history,
board member bios, volunteer opportunities, current
projects, hot issues, donation capabilities and important
partnerships.
“Our
state parks are a significant part of economic growth
in many of our rural communities.” Weinstein
added. “In a 2002 New Mexico State University
survey conducted for New Mexico State Parks, we learned
that visitors contributed more than $104 million to
the local economies through expenses in fuel, food
and lodging. The foundation wants to preserve that
value help the parks system protect our precious resources.”
Currently
New Mexicans’ tax dollars pay less than 40 percent
of the total cost of operating the New Mexico State
Park system. Each year the nearly 230 full-time park
staff members put forth a miraculous effort to protect
our valuable resources. It’s a burden the foundation
wants the public to be aware of.
Additional
board members include Karen Brown, former Rio Grande
Nature Center State Park Superintendent, Orlando Sedillo,
former State Parks Director, Martin Esquivel, foundation
legal council, Larry Federici, former State Parks Regional
Manager and Tony Olmi, commercial real estate broker.
For
more information on the New Mexico State Parks Foundation,
visit the new website at www.nmstateparksfoundation.com
or contact Consuelo T. Chavez, Executive Director,
505-977-4076 or by email, connie@nmstateparksfoundation.com.
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