National Park Service
U.S. Department of the Interior
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Assateague Island
National Seashore
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7206 National Seashore Lane
Berlin, Maryland 21811
410-641-1443 phone
410-641-1099 fax
www.nps.gov/asis
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Assateague Island National Seashore receives Centennial Challenge matching funds thanks to help from local partners.
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(Berlin, Maryland) – When Superintendent Scott J. Bentley was notified that Assateague Island National Seashore had been selected
as one of the 76 parks to receive Centennial Challenge matching funds, he responded by saying, “This is mainly due to our fantastic
and very supportive partners, who donated a total of $65,000.00 which will be matched dollar for dollar with federal funds totaling
$130,000.00.” Funds will be used for a new aquarium exhibit, and to complete production of a film about Assateague’s wild horses.
Superintendent Bentley applauds the generosity of the park’s partners; Assateague Mobile Sportsfishermen’s Association (AMSA),
Assateague Coastal Trust (ACT), and a private donor who wished to remain anonymous.
The National Park Service is celebrating its 100th birthday in 2016, and in preparation of this Centennial, America’s National Parks are
being reinvigorated for the next century. President Bush challenged the Parks to seek philanthropic donations and in return these
donations would be federally matched.
The National Seashore and its partners embraced this challenge. AMSA donated $50,000.00 for a marine life exhibit which will include
aquaria for the new visitor center scheduled to begin construction shortly. ACT’s $10,000.00 donation as well as the anonymous donor’
s $5,000.00 gift will be used to complete production on “Back to the Wild” a film about Assateague’s wild horses.
Chief of Interpretation and Education, Rachelle Daigneault, made the local announcement on Saturday, April 26th after a beach
cleanup and National Junior Ranger Day activities. Kathy Phillips Executive Director and Coastkeeper of ACT, and representing
AMSA, President Bill Justice, Vice President Howard Quillen and Director Doug Jones spent the day doing trash pickup in the
Oversand Vehicle Zone and providing complimentary lunches for cleanup volunteers. Daigneault said of the two organizations, “These
are people who care about Assateague and who, as park partners, share the responsibility of caring for Assateague.”
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Secretary of Interior Dirk Kempthorne greets
AMSA President Bill Justice on the Capitol steps April 24, 2008
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From left to right, Bill Justice, Doug Jones, and Howard Quillen of AMSA, Rachelle Daigneault from Assateague,
and Kathy Phillips of ACT announcing Centennial Challenge partnership April 26, 2008.
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For a complete list of the 2008 National Parks Service Centennial Challenge projects and programs
please visit www.nps.gov/2016
For more information on Assateague Island National Seashore,
visit www.nps.gov/asis/
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