Through his Family Foundation, Thomas Tull, a leading visionary and entrepreneur, is perpetuating the legacy of the west by investing in land preservation and wildlife.

The Tull Family Foundation recently gave $1 million to Yellowstone Forever to help ensure that wildlife is thriving and habitats remain intact so they may be enjoyed for generations to come.

Yellowstone Forever is the official nonprofit partner of Yellowstone National Park, whose mission is to protect, preserve, and enhance the Park’s treasures through education and philanthropy.

Yellowstone National Park, primarily located in Wyoming but encompassing parts of Montana and Idaho, is full of beauty, history, natural wonders, and wildlife. The world’s first National Park will mark its 150th anniversary in 2022, and the Tull family wants to ensure that its treasures remain protected and pristine for at least another 150 years.

“Thomas’ passion and dedication are admirable,” said Lisa Diekmann, president and CEO of Yellowstone Forever. “His gift is making a lasting investment that will help preserve Yellowstone National Park forever and help solve pivotal issues impacting the Park.”

As a Yellowstone Forever Board member, Thomas is helping to build a strong future for Yellowstone.

Yellowstone is home to over 1,000 miles of trails, and ensuring that they remain safe for visitors and accessible to all is vital for the Park’s future. Knowing that securing funding for projects of this type can be challenging, $500,000 of the donation is allocated to rehabilitate the Park’s trails and overlooks from the years of erosion and visitation.

Additionally, Yellowstone National Park has one of the most incredible ecosystems in the world. It’s home to more than 10,000 thermal features, the largest concentration of mammals in the lower 48 states, and endless rivers and lakes. The remaining $500,000 will help restore Yellowstone’s ecosystem balance, enhance biodiversity and reestablish the native fish populations.

The primary focus of Yellowstone’s Native Fish Restoration Program is lake trout eradication and the restoration of native cutthroat trout, which are an essential food source for grizzly bears, black bears and other wildlife. The donation from the Foundation will also be used by the Park to ensure the protection of bears through scientific research in order to sustain a healthy population.

While the Tull Family Foundation’s strategy for support of Yellowstone is still in its infancy, they envision future support of priority park projects, including youth educational programming and outreach.