Reno Shows Up to Support Nevada's National Park

On April 24, our Guardian community gathered at Craft Beer and Wine in Reno, eager to support Nevada’s national park. Friends and fans filled the space with conversations - sharing their connections, enthusiasm, and decades of experience caring for wild landscapes. The standing-room-only crowd also enjoyed a spread of delicious appetizers generously donated by Sprouts Farmers Market and the Truckee Meadows Community College Culinary Department.

Board Chair Greg Fine started the evening’s brief program by drawing Guardians and friends together around passion for national parks and the work of GBNPF since its founding.

Joel Muller shared a moving and personal story of his first visit to the Park where he proposed to his wife. Now as grandparents, they became Great Basin Guardians because they want to safeguard and protect this treasure for future generations.

Executive Director Aviva O’Neil outlined how the Foundation’s investments (more than $3 million) help to ensure the health and longevity of the fragile Great Basin ecosystem, inspire the next generation of Park stewards, welcome diverse audiences with exceptional visitor experiences, and address the Park’s most pressing problems. She went on to explain how GBNPF speaks for the Park even in normal times, and, thanks to donor support, in 2025, we have been able to step up into new levels of advocacy and support such as meeting with elected officials and rehiring staff who had been terminated on Valentine’s Day.

Board member Julia Ratti highlighted the organization’s efficiency and impact and ended the program by saying, “Whether you love the arts or nature or connecting culture, there's a reason why you should be investing in the Great Basin National Park Foundation.”

Thank you to our Great Basin Guardians and the many supporters who showed up in Reno last month. And thank you to all who donated. We are excited to be connecting with new friends and also eager to celebrate our Guardians who have been committed to our mission and goals through the years. Your support is making a difference!

Photo: standing room only at the Craft Wine and Beer event!