Jon and Karen Larson Family Foundation
Our Partners
Below are Mission statements (taken from the web sites) of the currently active non-profit organizations who have received and will continue to receive financial and/or administrative and promotional support from the Jon and Karen Larson Family Foundation.
Adobe Creek Restoration and Fish Hatchery Project
"YOUTH TAKING ACTION: As part of the ongoing task of educating others on Environmental Awareness, the students of Casa Grande High School in Petaluma, California are putting a plan in action to incorporate students of all ages, kindergarten through college, into the Adobe Creek Restoration Project whose objectives are to heal a stream, repair its habitat, and save a fish from extinction. Project objectives include:
Integration of science and mathematics with an emphasis on aquatic environmental studies (grades K-12).
Utilization of hands-on techniques by working in a "live" environment.
Student-initiated problem solving and higher level thinking.
Collaboration with peers and mentorship with science and technology experts.
Involvement of the local and business communities in education.
Cooperation between students and government officials with a single goal - save a species from extinction."
"YOUTH TAKING ACTION: As part of the ongoing task of educating others on Environmental Awareness, the students of Casa Grande High School in Petaluma, California are putting a plan in action to incorporate students of all ages, kindergarten through college, into the Adobe Creek Restoration Project whose objectives are to heal a stream, repair its habitat, and save a fish from extinction. Each year, the Casa Grande students assist children of the Tiburon Peninsula place 10,000 salmon into Richardson Bay with the hopes the salmon will return in four years to spawn in local streams. This yearly project is funded by the Dennis and Carol Rocky Foundation, both of whom were long time friends of Jon and Karen Larson.
"The labyrinth is an ancient and universal archetypal pattern that leads the walker on a prescribed path to its center. When walking the labyrinth, the walker experiences "a walk into his or her own soul while leaving the external world behind". The rise in popularity of labyrinths within the last decade is credited to their effectiveness as an introspective and celebratory tool used in various institutional and public settings.
The walking labyrinth is an experience within our community which honors both the individual human spirit and shared human values. The walking labyrinth is a celebration of diversity which bridges social and cultural boundaries while fostering hope and healing for people of all traditions."
"The Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy is a nonprofit membership organization dedicated to the preservation and public enjoyment of the Golden Gate National Parks. Our work is funded through the generous contributions of more than 12,000 individual members, corporations and foundations, as well as income earned through park stores, educational materials and interpretive tours. Since its formation in 1981, the Parks Association has provided the National Park Service with nearly $50 million for the Golden Gate National Parks."
The Presidio Native Plants Nursery has organized and facilitated the growing of 60,000 beautiful native California plants of over 125 species, a monumental organizational feat. It is staffed by professional co-workers and interns, and supported by 2000 community members who volunteer at the Presidio Nursery each year."
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"Over the past seven years, under the umbrella of the Heal All Life Sculptures project, many different individuals and non-profit organizations (each with its own vision, mission and priorities) have come together in a burst of shared synergy to create a series of thirteen sculptured healing sculptures carved from old growth previously fallen logs which range from several hundred to over 1,000 years old. Ten of the logs are immense Alaskan yellow cedar logs salvaged in 1997 from the U.S. Navy's former Port Chicago Naval facility on the San Francisco Bay where they were installed in the 1920's and used as floating and underwater caissons at the former west coast ammunition storage and trans-shipping facility. Three others are previously fallen old growth redwood logs acquired from private land owners near San Francisco.
Each Heal All Life sculpture is consecrated for a specific healing purpose. Each is a model for spiritual healing which honors the cultural and faith traditions of the peoples and the plants and animal life worldwide.
Three sculptures have been completed to date. Six more are in the detailed planning stage. The remaining three are stored at Fort Ord near Monterey, California and will be used by the California Workforce Investment Board's youth training programs of the One Stop career training centers in special youth mentorship training programs modeled after the successful One Voice 9-11 Healing Totem sculpture installed in New York City's Bronx Zoo as a permanent tribute to all those lives lost in the tragedies surrounding 9-11."
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Dedication ceremony of the 'One Voice 9-11 Healing Totem' sculpture installed at the Bronx Zoo in New York City.
"The Iliahi Foundation seeks to restore and preserve groves of rare iliahi sandalwood and other native trees and plants in Hawai`i. Just as iliahi thrive in relationship with other species, we recognize that our natural world and cultural heritage are similarly related. The Iliahi Foundation promotes the conservation, preservation, and restoration of native flora in Hawai`i through stewardship, research, education, reforestation and partnerships. We believe through these efforts our cultural history and natural environment can rise together, renewed."
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"The Interfaith Center at the Presidio is a regional grassroots organization dedicated to building friendly, mutually supportive relationships among people from different faith traditions for the good of us all. The Center cares for and operates the Main Post Chapel in the Presidio of San Francisco, part of the Golden Gate National Recreation Area of the National Park Service. The view from the Chapel takes in the San Francisco skyline. The Chapel is available for all, opening its doors for worship and meditation, for personal ceremonies such as weddings and memorials, as well as various interfaith, community, and performance events."
Workforce Investment Board of Monterey County, California
"This youth mural and arts project is funded by the Workforce Investment Act and Sponsored by Monterey County Workforce Investment Board, the Office for Employment Training, and the Monterey County One-Stop Career Center System.
Youth from throughout Monterey County participate in these annual projects which not only beautify our community for years to come but also provide the youth with team-building skills, bonding, and a pride for their community which will translate into productive members and good citizens of the community in which they live."
Muwekma Ohlone Indian Tribe of the San Francisco Bay
"We are the original inhabitants of San Francisco, California, USA, and the surrounding Bay Area. To introduce ourselves, we can do no better than to quote the words of the United States District Court in Washington, DC: "In the early part of the Twentieth Century, the Department of the Interior ("DOI") recognized the Muwkema Tribe as an Indian tribe under the jurisdiction of the United States.
In more recent times, however, and despite its steadfast efforts, the Muwekma Tribe has been unable to obtain federal recognition, a status vital to the Tribe and its members. ....It will be approximately 96 years since the Verona Band was first Federally Acknowledged.
Perhaps now the Muwekma Ohlone Tribe will be treated as an equal in the eyes of other Federally Recognized Indian Nations. Furthermore, Muwekma's reaffirmation also sends a message to the dominant society, some of whom have emphatically stated and published that the "Costanoan/Ohlone are extinct" and/or that we were "never Federally Recognized." Once again, we proved that the so-called experts and authorities on our culture and history know nothing about who we are as the aboriginal people of this region.
Aho! The Muwekma Ohlone Tribe of the San Francisco Bay Area. We will make things right for our People! Makin Mak-Atuemi Muwekma-mak!"
Pacific Islanders Cultural Association - PICA
"The Pacific Islanders' Cultural Association was formed in 1995 as an umbrella organization, to meet the common needs of all Pacific islanders in Northern California. It is comprised of many interested volunteers and members of numerous clubs rooted in the wide range of interests including outrigger canoes, music, dance, language, history, folk arts, foods, athletics, etc.
Our mission is to develop and perpetuate through education the histories, cultures and traditions of all Pacific islanders."
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PAL - Protect All Life Foundation
"PAL Foundation is dedicated to raising environmental awareness through creating interactive, educational artwork and recycling trees into their highest values."
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"In a world fractured by violence, we seek to provide hope. May the work of our members and friends inspire your hope and commitment. May we be the change we wish to see in the world."
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SAFE - Strategic Alliance for Earth
"SAFE is an interfaith ecology movement and a Cooperation Circle of the United Religions Initiative. People from many spiritual traditions and environmental groups gather... to affirm the sacredness of Earth, find common cause in caring for creation, and build community. Recent activities include an Environmental Fair with information tables and an opportunity to make connections where Native American dancers performed to celebrate the Earth. ... A dedicated time for a Pledge to the Earth was followed by a call for Advocacy, interfaith talk, music and ceremonies from many spiritual traditions."
Tonu Shane Eagleton - master carver and eco-sculptor
"Shane Eagleton has been in touch with issues involving sustainable practices and with environmental groups and activists who stand for principles that are in harmony with environmental concepts for the good of Mother Earth."
Bay Area Discovery Museum - Childrens Whale Canoe
"The Bay Area Discovery Museum in Sausalito is a fantastic place where toddlers to ten-year-olds and their families will find limitless opportunities for discoveries in art, science and media. Jon and Karen Larson's grandchildren play in the Childrens Whale Canoe shaped by Tonu Shane Eagleton partially funded by a grant from the Larson Family Foundation"
Association of Children's Museums
"Children's museums are institutions committed to serving the needs and interests of children by providing exhibits and programs that stimulate curiosity and motivate learning. Children's museums bring children and families together in a new kind of town square where play inspires lifelong learning. Children's museums play an important role in the lives of children and families within their diverse communities. Outreach programs for at-risk and under-served youth, school partnerships, and parent resource programs on early childhood education are just some of the ways children's museums serve families in their communities.
ACM museum members number approximately 215. ACM estimates that there are about 80 children's museums in start-up phase in the United States.
How is a children's museum different from other museums? Children's museums emphasize the educational role of museums, the visitor (children and families), and the contextual interactive exhibit strategies over the more traditional museum focus on the preservation/ research role, permanent collections, and non-tactile display or representation. In these client centered institutions, the needs and interests of the audience, the motivation to learn, and the empowerment of the visitor through contact and direct experience with objects are as important as subject or content focus. Children's museums are a pioneering and dynamic group of institutions that are challenging and redefining the boundaries of the traditional museum world and are still in the process of defining themselves."
TAO Education - Teachers Association for Outdoor Education
"TAO Education, Inc. was formed by a community of professional educators and highly trained outdoor guides in the North Lake Tahoe area. We seek to network with schools and youth groups in order to promote natural history education, outdoor skills, leadership, and stewardship toward the environment. Our board members are all professional educators with extensive outdoor experience and our president has 12 years of experience designing outdoor education programs for schools.
We believe that the most effective outdoor education comes from the combination of physical with cognitive development. While ANY type of outdoor teaching is valuable for kids, we believe that adventure is a key way to grab their attention and make them want to learn more about their surroundings. This is why we provide a full spectrum of adventure activities in addition to first rate environmental education.
Northern California abounds with outdoor opportunities for families who can afford the expense. For the lower income population, these opportunities usually go unfulfilled or unnoticed. The result is further division between students of different income levels, increasing gang involvement, and other unproductive behaviors resulting from simply not having enough to do. Thus, the young people who stand to benefit the most from outdoor adventures are the ones who rarely participate because of the high equipment and supervisory costs as well as a lack of understanding about the potential benefits.
There are other programs designed to increase youth access to the outdoors, but these opportunities are rarely, if ever, integrated into school programs and academics. There is no way to follow up or evaluate the potential benefits to participants.
Since our officers are professional educators, we have the experience and contacts necessary to truly integrate outdoor education into schools at low or no cost to them. We have the backing of school administrators and our guides have the best outdoor leadership training anywhere. We also have unlimited access to a supply of outdoor equipment for student use (kayaks, backpacks, rock climbing gear, and much more). We bring a totally unique blend of experience in education and outdoor leadership.
Instead of just getting students out for the day or the week, we will maintain long-term relationships with schools and youth organizations. We also intend to implement follow-up activities and de-briefs designed to integrate students outdoor experiences into their school and community lives.
Though more difficult to measure, our organization will combat increasing feelings of disenfranchisement among youth from low income families in Northern California. We intend to provide safe and fun alternatives to hanging out in the street, and our preliminary efforts have met with tremendous enthusiasm from program directors and, more importantly, our local youth."
The Nature Conservancy of Hawaii
"Since 1951, we've been working with communities, businesses and people to protect more than 92 million acres around the world.
Our Mission: To preserve the plants, animals and natural communities that represent the diversity of life on Earth by protecting the lands and waters they need to survive.
Why We're Successful: We work closely with communities, businesses and people like you. Together, we've protected more than 92 million acres of valuable lands and waters worldwide. We practice sound science that achieves tangible results. Our non-confrontational approach: Over 86% of all funds are used directly for conservation!
Total acres protected by the Conservancy in the United States: 12,621,000
Acres protected by the Conservancy outside the United States: 80,181,446
Conservancy members in 2001: approximately 1 million.
Together with our members and conservation partners, The Nature Conservancy has protected more than 200,000 acres of critical natural lands in Hawai`i."
"The Cultural Conservancy is a Native American nonprofit organization dedicated to the preservation and revitalization of indigenous cultures and their ancestral lands. We are a research, education, and advocacy organization. We provide mediation, legal, information referral, and audio recording services. We also produce educational programs and materials and technical trainings on Native land conservation and land rights, cultural and ecological restoration, and traditional indigenous arts and spiritual values.
The Cultural Conservancy develops programs for education and advocacy that:
Strengthen the skills of Native peoples in land management and conservation.
Restore to the greatest extent possible ownership of traditional land to its original caretakers.
Support stewardship of Native people on their land base by establishment of property rights, cultural easements, and Native land trusts which protect the habitat and traditional land-based activities of Native peoples.
Acknowledge the sacred relationship of Native peoples to the land.
Acknowledge the essential role of Native peoples in preserving environmental integrity and biological diversity.
Recognize and support the link between cultural and biological diversity.
Support the principle of Native self-determination.
Commit to cross-cultural interaction for environmental problem-solving, networking, and peacemaking.
The Cultural Conservancy works to develop understanding between indigenous ecological knowledge and western science. We conduct trainings and resource guides and develop ecological management plans with tribes, native communities, and Euro-American communities interested in honoring indigenous ways of knowing. We restore damaged and "exotic" ecosystems (those dominated by invasive, non-native species) with culturally significant native plant communities that can be managed by local native caretakers."
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