Arthur Blank Family Foundation

ATLANTA, Dec. 13, 2001 --The Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation is launching a three-year environmental grants program to assist Atlanta-area nonprofit organizations in preserving green space and developing urban parks inside Interstate 285.

The primary goal of the Environmental Initiative is to improve the quality of life in the core of metropolitan Atlanta by increasing open space for public use. During the three-year period, the Foundation plans to grant between $20 and $30 million to existing nonprofit organizations that submit solid plans for land acquisition and stewardship or urban park development. This Initiative continues the Foundation’s history of supporting organizations involved in the future health of the planet.

"The legacy of this program is clear," said Arthur M. Blank, Foundation chairman. "Our goal is to improve the quality of life for present and future generations."

Blank noted that preserving green space will help ensure better air and water quality, as well as the availability of land for neighborhood enjoyment and recreational use.

"Atlanta is one of the fastest growing regions in the nation and with that ranking comes a host of environmental issues, including loss of green space. Conservative estimates state that over 200,000 acres of trees will be lost here by the year 2020," he added. "The Environmental Initiative will give much needed support to nonprofit groups already dedicated to preserving our environmental resources."

In explaining the need for this initiative, Blank cited data from the Urban Land Institute and Trust for Public Land that lists Atlanta as a city of rapidly declining green space. The data also ranks Atlanta last in per capita park and open space when compared to other like-sized cities, such as Phoenix, Dallas, Louisville and Houston. Among cities its size and density, Atlanta has just 7.6 acres of parks and open space per thousand residents, while Phoenix has 27.6 acres. In addition, most higher density cities have more park space as a percentage of overall area, such as Washington, D.C. with 19.1% or San Diego with 17.4%; Atlanta has just 3.7%.

"Atlanta has such limited park space that the creation of more parks is one of the outcomes we would like to see through our initiative," Blank said.

During the program’s first year in 2002, the emphasis will be on preserving green space. In 2003 and 2004, funding may be increasingly focused on stewardship and urban park development, explained Elise Eplan, the Foundation’s co-director.

The Foundation will begin accepting letters of intent in February 2002 and the first wave of grants will be made in June, said Eplan. Multi-year funding will not be granted, but organizations may apply in each of the three years of the initiative. Grant requests must include evidence of additional funding sources, as well as a stewardship plan to ensure that the land will be preserved.

"We see this Environmental Initiative as the catalyst to bring other partners together Ð both public and private Ð because we cannot achieve our goals alone," Blank said.

Blank noted the efforts and support of state and local governments, as well as many environmental groups.

"Governor Barnes has sent a strong message that green space preservation is important to our region," Blank said. "Although our geographic focus is limited to inside Interstate 285, we are well informed about the priorities for the entire region and we hope that other public and private organizations will join us in preserving more green space."

Governor Barnes praised the Blank Family Foundation for its foresight and dedication to such an important environmental need.

"It is wonderful that the Blank Family Foundation supports Georgia's need to set aside natural areas and to protect them from development," Barnes said. "Green space preservation is important to our entire region, including Atlanta, but government cannot do it alone. Partnerships such as this between public and private organizations will allow us to meet our needs much more quickly. This funding will help highly developed communities set aside open space for public use and improve their quality of life."

Atlanta Mayor-elect Shirley Franklin echoed Governor Barnes’ commendation of the Blank Family Foundation’s "generous initiative and truly visionary idea."

"We sorely need additional green space and parks to bring Atlanta in line with other great cities," Mayor-elect Franklin said. "I admire the Blank Family Foundation’s direct approach to improving our city’s quality of life and encourage other public-private partnerships to join with the Blank family in this initiative."

"The Blank Family Foundation will rely on experts in the environmental field to guide the process and will count on an advisory council to guide its decisions in awarding grants," Eplan explained. "We know that this initiative will be successful with the hard work and dedication of various organizations and government entities in Atlanta."

Organizations such as The Conservation Fund applaud the Blank Family Foundation’s continued commitment to the environment.

"Green space and parks are integral components of high quality, livable communities," said Rex R. Boner, vice president and southeast representative of The Conservation Fund. "As Atlanta takes steps to become a true world class city, it is necessary to expand the parks and green space system to meet world-class standards. Recent assessments indicate that these standards require a tripling of the current park acreage in the metropolitan Atlanta area. We can help make this a reality because of the efforts of the Blank Family Foundation."

Founded in 1995, The Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation is committed to supporting programs and organizations that create opportunity, enhance self-esteem, and increase awareness about cultural and community issues among young men and women. Foundation and personal grants paid to date total more than $73 million, with approximately $37 million planned in 2002.