Founding Partners
In 2009, the Blue Ridge Parkway Foundation partnered with the Blue Ridge Parkway (National Park Service) and Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina Foundation to create the Kids in Parks program.
Financial Partners
As a nonprofit program, Kids in Parks relies on support from grant funders, corporate sponsors, and private donors. The following organizations and agencies have contributed significantly to the success of Kids in Parks:
Agency Partners
Kids in Parks has been unique in its ability to cross state and agency boundaries. The program's federal and state agency partners include:
Research Partners
Kids in Parks has partnered with universities to evaluate the effectiveness of the program. These partners include:
![App State - Beaver College of Health Sciences logo](/sites/default/files/2024-02/Public_Health_Vert_Bell_black_gold_two_lines.jpg)
![Rutgers University logo](/sites/default/files/2023-08/Rutgers%20University.png)
![Clemson University logo](/sites/default/files/2023-08/Clemson%20Logo.jpeg)
![UNC Wilmington logo](/sites/default/files/2023-08/UNC-Wilmington.png)
![UNC Charlotte logo](/sites/default/files/2023-08/UNC%20Charlotte%20Logo.png)
Healthcare Partners
Kids in Parks partnered with more than 150 healthcare partners, ranging from hospital systems, pediatric offices, health departments, and more. These partners include:
![Duke Children's logo](/sites/default/files/2023-08/dukeChildren%27s_0.png)
![Spartanburg Regional Healthcare System logo](/sites/default/files/2023-08/SRHS_CMYK_NT_V.png)
![University of Florida Health logo](/sites/default/files/2023-08/UF%20Health.png)
![SC Dept. of Health and Environmental Control](/sites/default/files/2024-02/SCDHEC_logo.jpg)
DEI Partners
Kids in Parks has partnered with multiple organizations to enhance the program's diversity, equity, and inclusion objectives. These partners include:
![Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians logo](/sites/default/files/2024-01/Cherokke%20Logo.jpg)
![Latinos Aventureros en las Carolinas logo](/sites/default/files/2024-01/Latinos%20Aventureros%20copy.jpg)
![Hispanic Access Foundation logo](/sites/default/files/2024-01/HAF%20Logo%20%281%29%20copy.jpg)
![St. Gerard House logo](/sites/default/files/2024-01/St.Gerard%20House.jpg)