WASHINGTON, April 1, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — America The Beautiful Foundation officially launched its nationwide campaign during a landmark event in Washington, D.C., convening leaders from government, conservation, and culture to mark the country’s 250th anniversary with a forward-looking vision for restoration, resilience, and national engagement.
The effort brings together an unprecedented coalition of public and private partners – from federal agencies and frontline fire leadership to global companies, conservation organizations, and industry leaders – working collectively to drive large-scale impact across the country.
Hosted by Kelsey Grammer, with support from leading conservation voices, including Johnny Morris, founder of Bass Pro Shops, the evening, which took place at The Trump Kennedy Center, introduced a multi-faceted national campaign focused on restoring America’s lands and waters, strengthening communities, and inspiring the next generation through storytelling, education, and action.
At the center of the initiative is a national IMAX film series, narrated by Grammer and developed in partnership with Mission Partners Entertainment Group and Dorsey Pictures, supported by lead campaign sponsors, Salesforce and Slack, along with Uline. The films are designed to showcase the beauty, diversity, and significance of America’s working and natural landscapes and will be distributed in IMAX theaters nationwide, including in 3D formats. A preview of the film series was unveiled at the event.
“We’re not just celebrating our history – we are shaping our future,” said Dr. Emily Weeks, founder and CEO of America The Beautiful Foundation. “The story of this country has always been written in its landscapes – our forests, rivers, coastlines, and farmlands. These are not just natural assets. They are the foundation of our economy, our communities, and our national identity.”
Weeks emphasized that the initiative is designed to pair storytelling with large-scale, measurable action.
“This is a national effort to restore millions of acres of land, safeguard clean water, strengthen wildfire resilience, and build a stronger, more resilient economy – while inspiring the next generation through storytelling, education, and action,” she said.
The Foundation also announced a national education initiative, partnered with a number of education institutions integrating the film series into school curricula nationwide. In collaboration with Growums and Little Green Thumb Foundation, and in recognition of National Garden Day, a hands-on, garden-based learning program will also launch in 100 schools across all 50 states with plans to expand to 500 schools nationwide.
Expanding its conservation efforts, the Foundation is working alongside Reforest America Impact Fund to support one of the largest reforestation efforts in the country with a goal of restoring up to 10 million acres of degraded and fire-impacted forests. WICE (World Institute for Conservation and Environment), ACRE, American Forests and local NGOs will work on integrated reforestation efforts to restore access to public lands across multiple states, including launching a national planting day, clearing and reopening trails to reconnect communities with nature.
The event also featured remarks from Fire Chief Dan Munsey of the San Bernardino County Fire Protection District, who spoke to the urgent need for wildfire resilience and cross-sector coordination, and Dave Tenny, CEO of National Alliance for Forest Owners, who spoke on the importance of sustainable forest and land management.
To address the wildfire crisis, the Foundation is collaborating with Western Fire Chiefs to develop a national roadmap and build an advanced early alert system for wildfire prevention and response – while working with Lockheed Martin, WICE and Earth Fire Alliance to support frontline responders and convenings, such as the Wildfire, Smoke and Health Conference.
Also present was California Fire Chiefs Association (CalChiefs), which represents 650 fire chiefs across 1,000 agencies, and PG&E, which has committed to advancing critical fuel reduction efforts along utility corridors, bringing real solutions to the front lines.
The Foundation is also launching a national clean water initiative in partnership with WICE and other leaders, including Florida International University and MSC Foundation, to expand clean water technologies, restore marine ecosystems, and address environmental challenges – such as coastal pollution and harmful algal blooms, while partnering with the agricultural sector to reduce nutrient runoff and protect critical ecosystems like the Everglades.
These efforts are being advanced in coordination with the United States government, including collaboration with the White House Environmental Task Force, as well as engagement with federal agencies, including the Departments of the Interior and Agriculture, and the U.S. Forest Service.
“This is not just a commitment to restoring our lands and waters – it’s a commitment to protecting our people, strengthening our communities and economy, and building something for future generations,” Weeks said. “We have an opportunity – perhaps one of the greatest in generations – to restore, protect, and invest in those assets so that the next 250 years are even stronger than the last.”
More: https://www.americathebeautifulfoundation.org
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SOURCE America The Beautiful Foundation
