| SEQUOIA NATIONAL PARK, Calif. October 1, 2021 – Sequoia Parks Conservancy (SPC) has launched the KNP Complex Fire Recovery Fund for Sequoia National Park in response to the wildfires ignited from lightning storms in the Sierra Nevada Mountains on September 9, 2021. As thousands of firefighters from across the county converge to battle the growing wildfire complex, Sequoia Parks Conservancy is rallying the public to raise funds for recovery efforts in the park. Sequoia National Park is America’s second-oldest national park and is home to many famous natural wonders including the giant sequoia tree, one of the largest and longest living organisms on Earth, and Mount Whitney, the highest peak of the contiguous United States. The fire is garnering the attention of some of the biggest names in Hollywood right now. Two of Sequoia Parks Conservancy’s ambassadors have gotten involved encouraging their fans to donate. Actor Martin Henderson of Grey’s Anatomy and Netflix’s Virgin River series has been escaping the pressures of Hollywood in the Sierra Nevada for years. After living in L.A. for some years and yearning to spend time outdoors, a friend introduced Henderson to the Sierra Nevada and Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks. He says “the parks have and continue to provide a great deal of inspiration, solace and wonder for me and I have always treasured the magnificence and power of the sierras and particularly the giant Sequoias. It breaks my heart that this incredible resource is under threat and I’d like to encourage everyone who values nature to please donate to help save these trees that can’t help themselves.” Henderson has 958,000 followers on Instagram. |
| Grammy-winning musician Avi Kaplan has also pleaded with his 977,000 followers on Facebook and Instagram. Born and raised in Visalia, CA, Kaplan spent much time in his youth exploring Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks. Those experiences continually influence his music, as mountains, forests, and giant sequoias are recurring themes in his songs. Kaplan became an SPC ambassador this past summer. He was devastated when he realized that some of his favorite places and trails growing up were gone, wiped out by the high-severity wildfires of the SQF fire of 2020. With sequoias in his soul, he has joined SPC to help spread the word and make sure that these amazing giants are around for many generations to come. |
Sports television anchor and SPC’s newest board member Andrew Siciliano is the play-by-play announcer for the Los Angeles Rams and also the host of NFL Sunday Ticket on The Red Zone airing on DirecTV. He pleaded with his Twitter following of almost 200,000 people to put football aside for a moment and donate.
Actor Tiffani Thiessen of Saved by the Bell, Beverly Hills 90210, and White Collar loves spending time in her family’s cabin built by her grandfather in nearby Sequoia National Forest. After seeing coverage of the fire, Thiessen made a donation to the KNP Complex Fire Fund and recently told People Magazine “I have made a donation, and we hope you will too. My heart is broken at the images I continue to see. But I am so grateful for all of the firefighters working tirelessly to get these fires contained.” 
About the FundDonations to the KNP Complex Fire Recovery Fund for Sequoia National Park will fund efforts to rebuild trails, protect sequoia groves and meadows, safeguard cultural and historic features, reestablish access to Crystal Cave, restore wildlife habitat, and more.
About Sequoia Parks Conservancy Sequoia Parks Conservancy is the official nonprofit partner of Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks and Lake Kaweah, working hand-in-hand with the National Park Service to support projects including trail improvements, educational programs for the public, and the protection of wildlife and their natural habitat.
