The C&O Canal Trust announced the honorees who will be recognized for their service to the C&O Canal National Historical Park (NHP) during the Sixth Annual Park After Dark fundraiser on Saturday, Sep. 17.
REI will receive the 2016 Centennial Award in recognition of the years of philanthropic and corporate support the specialty outdoor retailer has provided to both the C&O Canal Trust and the C&O Canal NHP. The company is the “Official Outdoor Retailer” of the National Park Service’s Centennial celebration and has a multi-year, multi-million-dollar partnership with the National Park Foundation. The co-op has funded volunteer events, hosted educational opportunities in the park, teamed up with park staff on education initiatives, and donated time and money to support the park.
Mark Stover of Quality Systems and Products, LLC, will receive the 2016 William O. Douglas Award for Stewardship of the Chesapeake & Ohio Canal National Historical Park. A Rockville resident, Stover has been a long-time user, volunteer, and financial supporter of the park, and this award recognizes his commitment to the stewardship of C&O Canal. Previous winners of the award include past Trust Board of Directors Chairman Roy Sewall (2015), Chairman of the J. Willard and Alice S. Marriott Foundation Richard E. Marriott (2014), and Minkoff Development Corporation’s Paul Chod and Andy Chod (2013).
William “Bud” Cline and Dell Pillers/Cline, also residents of Rockville, will be awarded the Canal Pride Award for Volunteer Service in recognition of the thousands of volunteer hours they have given in service to the C&O Canal NHP and the C&O Canal Trust. They both volunteer as Quartermasters and members of the Bike Patrol, and Bud Cline has also served as a past member of the Trust’s Board of Directors and a current member of its Advisory Board.
All three awards will be presented during the Sixth Annual Park After Dark fundraiser hosted by the C&O Canal Trust on Saturday, Sept. 17 at 6 p.m. This event, which is the largest fundraising event in support of the C&O Canal National Historical Park, is held beneath the stars in the park at the Historic Great Falls Tavern in Potomac and features live music, food, libations, a live and silent auction, a campfire, and more.
The C&O Canal Trust is the official nonprofit partner of the C&O Canal NHP, and last year raised $130,000 at this event. Funds from the event will help to sustain the historical, natural, and cultural heritage and recreational opportunities within the C&O Canal NHP.
This year’s event will be emceed by Topper Shutt, chief meteorologist for WUSA9, and will feature lively music by The River Run Band, a visit from the Canal mules, a barbeque dinner, accompaniments and desserts, and a campfire with s’mores to round out the evening.
The sponsors for the event include The J. Willard and Alice S. Marriott Foundation, A. R. Landsman Foundation, The Jewell Foundation, Quality Products and Systems, LLC, The Jewell Foundation, KPMG, LLP and Minkoff Development Corporation.
Tickets for the event are on sale now for $175 per person. $125 of that price is a tax-deductible donation to the C&O Canal Trust. Tickets are available at www.ParkAfterDark.org. This is a rain or shine event, and attire is Canal Casual.