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Grosvenor Fund for Geography Education
Logo: Grosvenor Gala
The National Geographic Society is proud to announce that a gala celebration took place on Wednesday, May 3, 2006, to mark the achievements of Gilbert M. Grosvenor and launch the National Geographic Society's Gilbert M. Grosvenor Fund for Geography Education. 		Photo: Gilbert M. Grosvenor sailing
Photograph by James Blair
Gala Information
The World of Gilbert M. Grosvenor: A Lifetime of Service, An Evening of Celebration honored Gil Grosvenor's dedication to National Geographic and geography education, and was held on the occasion of his 75th birthday. This was the first major fundraising event for the National Geographic Society, and the purpose was to raise awareness and funds to benefit the Gilbert M. Grosvenor Fund for Geography Education.

The evening gala took place Wednesday, May 3, 2006, at the Marriott Wardman Park Hotel in Washington, D.C.

  • View images from the May 3 Grosvenor Gala celebration.

    • Appropriately titled "Mr. Geography Education," a tribute video to Gilbert Grosvenor was shown at the May 3 gala.

  • Watch personal messages from inaugural National Geography Teacher-in-Residence, Peggy Steele Clay, former Geography Bee Champion, Suzanna Botko-Yovino, and Jeopardy!/NG Bee host, Alex Trebek.
    (Requires Windows Media Player)

    • Lead underwriting for the gala was provided by International Paper Corporation, with additional underwriting support from Rolex.

    		Photo: Gil Grosvenor speaking at the Grosvenor Gala
    Gil Grosvenor speaking at the Grosvenor Gala. Photograph by Ralph Alswang
    Photo: Gil Grosvenor teaching
    Photograph by Gordon Gahan
    Gil Grosvenor and the Grosvenor Fund for Geography Education
    Gilbert M. Grosvenor has served National Geographic since 1954, first as a writer and photographer, then as the editor of National Geographic magazine, president of the Society, and now as chairman of the board. Gil has distinguished himself as the nation's leading advocate for returning geography education to America's schools.

    To commemorate his achievements, National Geographic has established the Gilbert M. Grosvenor Fund for Geography Education to enhance K-12 classroom geography education in the U.S. through grant-making, innovative projects, and outreach.

    Geography's impact is everywhere, from skyrocketing oil prices to global warming and the destruction wrought by hurricanes and tsunamis. Gil and the Geographic believe geography's power can be harnessed to analyze our past and make more informed choices for the world's future.

    If you were unable to attend on May 3 but would like to make a donation to the Grosvenor Fund for Geography Education, use the link at the bottom of this page or click "Ways to Give" at left.

    All net proceeds from the gala evening will support the Grosvenor Fund.
    Grosvenor Gala Committees
    HONORARY COMMITTEE
    President and Mrs. George W. Bush
    Mrs. Lyndon B. Johnson
    The Honorable and Mrs. Gerald R. Ford
    The Honorable and Mrs. Jimmy Carter
    Mrs. Ronald W. Reagan
    The Honorable and Mrs. George H. W.
       Bush
    The Honorable William J. Clinton and
       The Honorable Hillary Rodham Clinton
    THE GALA STEERING COMMITTEE
    Mr. and Mrs. W. Leslie Douglas
    Mr. and Mrs. John M. Fahey, Jr.
    Mr. and Mrs. James C. Kautz
    Mr. and Mrs. J. Willard Marriott, Jr.
    Dorothy and Bill McSweeny
    Mr. and Mrs. Patrick F. Noonan
    The Honorable and Mrs. William K. Reilly
    Mr. and Mrs. B. Francis Saul II
    THE INTERNATIONAL COMMITTEE
    H.E. Dennis Richardson
    The Ambassador of Australia
    H.E. Roberto Abdenur
    The Ambassador of Brazil
    The Honorable Michael Wilson
    The Ambassador of Canada
    H.E. Zhou Wenzhong
    The Ambassador of China
    H.E. Nabil Fahmy
    The Ambassador of Egypt
    H.E. András Simonyi
    The Ambassador of Hungary
    H.E. Ronen Sen
    The Ambassador of India
    H.E. Sudjadnan Parnohadiningrat
    The Ambassador of Indonesia
    H.E. Ryozo Kato
    The Ambassador of Japan
    H.E. Eduardo Ferrero
    The Ambassador of Peru
    H.E. Barbara Masekela
    The Ambassador of South Africa
    H.E. Sir David Manning KCMG
    The Ambassador of the United Kingdom of
       Great Britain and Northern Ireland
    THE CONGRESSIONAL COMMITTEE
    Senator Lamar Alexander
    Senator Thad Cochran
    Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist
    House Speaker J. Dennis Hastert
    Representative Jerry Lewis
    House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi
    Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid
    Senator Ted Stevens
    Senator John Warner

    SOCIETY LEADERSHIP
    Grosvenor Gala Friends Committees
    VOYAGERS
    The Phil Hardin Foundation
    Maddox Foundation
    The David and Lucile Packard Foundation
    PATRONS
    Mr. and Mrs. W. Leslie Douglas
    Kautz Family Foundation
    The J. Willard and Alice S. Marriott Foundation
    Richard King Mellon Foundation
    Mr. and Mrs. B. Francis Saul II
    Utah State Board Education and Utah State Legislature
    Windhover Foundation
    GEOGRAPHERS
    Anonymous
    Jeffrey and Darlene Anderson
    The Lee and Juliet Folger Fund
    The Gilbert M. Grosvenor Family
    Iron Horse Vineyards
       Audrey and Barry Sterling
    Mr. and Mrs. Carl H. Lindner
    Mr. and Mrs. Carl H. Lindner III
    Mr. and Mrs. Patrick F. Noonan
    Woodstock Foundation
    EXPLORERS
    The Acacia Group
    Charles and Gwen Allmon
    Walter A. Bloedorn Foundation
    Michael and Sheila Bonsignore
    Dodge Jones Foundation
    EDS
    Mr. and Mrs. John M. Fahey, Jr.
    FedEx
    The Honorable and Mrs. William K. Reilly
    Mr. and Mrs. Edward P. Roski, Jr.
    Tucker Capital Corporation
    ADVENTURERS
    Joan Abrahamson and Jonathan Aronson
    Mr. Joseph L. Allbritton
    The Clayton Fund
    The Conservation Fund
    Covington & Burling
    DuPont
    Dr. and Mrs. Lloyd H. Elliott
    Rosemary and Roger Enrico
    Daniel and Judith Goldin
    Bruce and Nancy Gottwald
    Floyd D. Gottwald, Jr.
    Mrs. Lyndon B. Johnson
    Principal Financial Group
    Texas State University, San Marcos
    Time, Inc.
    Tracy R. Wolstencroft
    TREKKERS
    Allbritton Communications Company
    William L. Allen
    Arent Fox PLLC
    Association of American Geographers
       Dr. Douglas Richardson
    Baker & Hostetler
    Bechtel Foundation
    Berlin Industries, Inc.
    Dick and Denise Boehm
    Mr. and Mrs. Thomas E. Bolger
    Brown Advisory
    John J. Brown and Susan K. Feagin
    Magalen O. Bryant
    Carefirst Blue Cross Blue Shield
    Cayfosa Quebecor
    Chesapeake Bay Foundation
    Communications Data Services
    ConocoPhillips
    Cummins Inc.
    Mr. Jake Eberts
    Environmental Systems Research Institute (ESRI)
    Epsilon
    Fannie Mae
    Farr, Miller & Washington, LLC
    Bradford M. Freeman
    Mr. Claude A. Giroux and Family
    The Richard and Rhoda Goldman Fund
    Gordon and Llura Gund
    The Henry Foundation
    Hess, Egan, Hagerty
       & L'Hommedieu, Inc. / M&T Bank
    Hogan & Hartson
    Host Marriott Corporation
    Izaak Walton League of America
    J. E. Robert Companies
    The Honorable and Mrs. Philip C. Jackson, Jr.
    Eli S. Jacobs
    Mr. Richard T. Kennedy and Ms. Heidi E. Morgan
    The Honorable Tom C. Korologos &
       & The Honorable Ann McLaughlin Korologos
    KPMG
    Lambrakis Press SA
    Gerry and Marguerite Lenfest
    Lindblad Expeditions, Inc.
    Virginia Cretella Mars
    Dr. Floretta Dukes McKenzie
    Dorothy and Bill McSweeny
    Panfilo and Diana Gardner Morelli
    National Fish & Wildlife Foundation
    NGS Geographic Alliances
    Northern Trust
    The Patrick Foundation
    Patton Boggs, LLP
    PEPCO
    The Honorable Mariana Pfaelzer
    Greg and Liz Platts
    The Honorable and Mrs. Nathaniel P. Reed
    Catherine B. Reynolds Foundation
    Mr. and Mrs. Thomas D. Rutherfoord, Jr.
    Vicki and Roger Sant
    Gerd and Irene Schulte-Hillen
    SeaWorld & Busch Gardens
    Dr. and Mrs. Robert C. Seamans, Jr.
    Sesame Workshop
    Dr. Bertrand J. Shapiro
    Sofos Management
    STW Fixed Income Management
    Strategic Investment Group
    Towers Perrin
    Wachovia
    Mr. Ted Waitt
    Missy and Seth Warfield
    Weil, Gotshal & Manges
    Mr. and Mrs. Leo F. Wells III
    Mrs. Dawn Noonan Ziemski

    The National Geographic Society is a 501(c)(3), tax-exempt organization.
    For further information, please call +1 202 333 4406, or email NGSGala@gardnermills.com

    Program, schedules, and pricing are specified in good faith as accurate at the time of posting, but are subject to change without notice.

    Thank you for your support of National Geographic.
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