Dear Oakland Parks Supporters,
This year revealed the essential importance of Oakland parks. Through picnics at Lake Merritt, volunteer events at local parks and hikes under the redwoods, we saw how time outdoors preserved our community’s mental, physical and spiritual health in the midst of a historic pandemic.
This year has also shown us that parks exist at the fulcrum of justice, elevating equity when properly stewarded, but worsening disparity when neglected. By working for equitable access to parks, we ensure that their benefits can be broadly enjoyed by all Oaklanders.
Your support for the Oakland Parks and Recreation Foundation empowers you to amplify the impact of your passion for parks. As you will see in our 2019-20 Annual Report:
- We advocate with you by surveying Oaklanders and promoting our city’s parks and recreation system with civic leaders.
- We partner with you by acting as fiscal sponsor for over 100 groups providing recreation and stewardship programs across our city.
- We invest with you by renovating facilities, restoring grounds, providing scholarships and making recreation center grants.
That’s why every $1 raised by the Oakland Parks and Recreation Foundation during our 2019-20 fiscal year created $3 of investment in Oakland’s parks and programs, generating new opportunities to learn, play and grow.
As we approach a new year, let’s take the next step together. Please join us by making a year end donation here at oaklandparks.org. Your action strengthens our combined efforts to advocate, partner and invest in Oakland’s parks and people.
As longtime parks supporter Aileen Frankel wrote to me, “It’s so rewarding to enable learning, connection and joyful play in Oakland parks. These inspiring opportunities allow each of us to sustain our entire community.”
Thank you for your generous support.
Warmly,
Ken Lupoff
Executive Director