Blog

Catch up on the latest news about our efforts to protect the Blue Ridge Parkway.

Photo by Vicki Dameron

Virginia’s Blue Ridge Parkway license plate now available online

February 28, 2024
  Great news! Virginia drivers can now order the Blue Ridge Parkway specialty license plate online and request the plate at DMV offices. The tag depicts a colorful scenic view of the Parkway and is the only specialty plate in the commonwealth solely dedicated to funding projects and programs within the country’s most visited national park. 
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N.C. drivers raise more than $570,000 with Parkway plates

February 8, 2024
The Blue Ridge Parkway license plate is the perfect example of how a community of supporters can make a big impact. In 2023, North Carolina drivers raised $574,461 to enhance the national park by purchasing or renewing their Blue Ridge Parkway specialty license plate. That is the largest amount raised through the program in more than a decade.  Thank you, North Carolina plateholders! Your support allows us to rehab trails, restore historic buildings, train volunteers, monitor wildlife, and do so much more for the park you love. 
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Virginia Parkway plate to land in mailboxes soon!

February 6, 2024
We have great news! Your Blue Ridge Parkway license plate(s), are slated to arrive in the mail at the end of February or early March. We greatly appreciate your patience as plate production took longer than expected. Your plate will be one of the very first to hit the road. 
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Holiday Gifts that Give Back

December 13, 2023
Need a thoughtful present for a loved one? Here's a list of great gifts for people who love music, photography, puzzles, getaways, and especially the Blue Ridge Parkway! Happy Holidays❄️
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Turn Giving Tuesday into Giving Views Day

November 20, 2023
On the Blue Ridge Parkway, we’re counting down to Giving Views Day on Tuesday, November 28. It’s our own special version of the annual day of generosity celebrated around the world.  
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Mount Pisgah platform to undergo reconstruction 

October 22, 2023
Beginning Monday, Oct. 23, a contracted crew and volunteers will start reconstruction of the viewing platform atop Mount Pisgah in Pisgah National Forest off the Blue Ridge Parkway at milepost 407.6. The project is funded through the generosity of our Community of Stewards.
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Growing pollination stations

October 13, 2023
In the future, pollinators along the Blue Ridge Parkway will find more wildflower habitats where they can thrive. Thanks to funding from Foundation donors, students from Appalachian State University and volunteers spent two summers surveying populations of bees in the park. The first survey was conducted before wildflower display areas were established on the Parkway, and the second after these areas were revived by National Park Service staff and volunteers who collected site-specific native seeds for planting.
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Your IRA can help the Parkway and reduce your taxes

October 13, 2023
Rick Lotz loves to drive the Blue Ridge Parkway, and not just from behind the wheel. His support drives enhancements within the national park. He wants more Blue Ridge Parkway Foundation donors to know about the tax advantages of qualified charitable distributions (QCDs) from individual retirement accounts (IRAs).
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Denim Ball raises nearly $200,000 for Moses H. Cone Memorial Park 

September 13, 2023
Decked out in denim attire, more than 200 guests admired a unique collection of vintage cars as they celebrated the sixth annual Denim Ball on Sept. 7 at the Perry Car Barn in Blowing Rock. The sold-out event raised nearly $200,000 to fund continued improvements at Moses H. Cone Memorial Park through the Blue Ridge Parkway Foundation. “We are so grateful for a wonderful venue, generous sponsors, and a delightful group of guests who support this iconic and cherished place,” said Jordan Calaway, Chief Development Officer for the Foundation. 
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Lance joins Council of Advisors for Blue Ridge Parkway Foundation

August 14, 2023
The Blue Ridge Parkway Foundation recently welcomed Bronwyn Lance to the nonprofit organization’s Council of Advisors.  Lance is chief of staff to U.S. Congressman Chuck Edwards (NC-11), where she oversees the intersection of policy, press and politics for North Carolina’s 11th congressional district. 
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Public invited to regional meetings for Blue Ridge Rising Action Plan

July 26, 2023
The Blue Ridge Parkway Foundation is announcing a series of meetings in August to help formulate an action plan for Blue Ridge Rising, the regional planning effort that is uniting the gateway communities of the Blue Ridge Parkway. Members of the public are encouraged to register for and attend any of the seven meetings hosted in North Carolina and Virginia.
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Kids in Parks to add 138 TRACK Trails in South Carolina

June 5, 2023
The Foundation's Kids in Parks program is preparing to expand its network of family friendly outdoor adventures, called TRACK Trails, in South Carolina. Through a grant from the BlueCross BlueShield of South Carolina Foundation to support the goals of Diabetes Free SC (DFSC), Kids in Parks will establish three TRACK Trails in each of the state’s 46 counties over the next four years for a total of 138 new locations.
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Blue Ridge Parkway projects that need your support

May 24, 2023
Each year, the Foundation works with the National Park Service to determine where donors can make the greatest impact on the Blue Ridge Parkway. Our 2023 Parkway Project List below outlines the ways your donation can transform the national park you love.  The national park depends on dedicated donors to provide critical funding through the Foundation. You can choose to give to a specific initiative that you want to see accomplished or provide a gift that supports the highest priority needs. 
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Mother's Day gift inspiration

May 10, 2023
Do you need a heartfelt Mother’s Day gift? We have 5 wonderful ways to show mom your love. 1. A donation to protect the Blue Ridge Parkway in honor of your mom is a meaningful way to show you care about the national park she loves. Whether she enjoys hiking, visiting historical sites, or taking in the mountain vistas from overlooks, your gift will make her proud. You can also download an e-card or printable card to announce your gift! Donate
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