Corporate Partnerships
Union Pacific Railroad
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Overview
Overview
As a premier partner of Youth Engagement and Education and the largest private sponsor of Open OutDoors for Kids, Union Pacific is proud to encourage young adventurers to explore America’s national parks. For nearly 160 years, Union Pacific trains have traversed the beautiful scenery of our nation's western states, delivering the goods Americans use every day.
Union Pacific's history with the national parks started with creating iconic western parks like Yellowstone, Zion, Grand Canyon and Death Valley, when the railroad allowed travelers to experience the wonderment of the new national parks, working hand-in-hand to develop the infrastructure that park visitors still treasure. Today, while Union Pacific trains no longer carry passengers to national parks, the railroad remains committed to sharing the wonders of our nation with the next generation through its partnership with the National Park Foundation (NPF). The railroad's support provides national park experiences for thousands of students across the 23 states where Union Pacific operates.
The Backstory
Union Pacific’s support of NPF has been decades in the making. When the National Park Service (NPS) was created, Union Pacific provided access to these landscapes by developing park infrastructure that visitors still use and enjoy today at parks. NPF’s ability to serve as a national organization that works across the National Park System has helped Union Pacific engage the very communities where the railroad operates.
The multi-year partnership between Union Pacific and NPF has focused on the core goals of access, education, and outreach and engagement. Together, NPF and Union Pacific are ensuring that everyone has access to special places in the community that celebrate cultural diversity and the natural environment.
Partnership Impact
With Union Pacific’s success linked to the economic prosperity and wellbeing of the cities and towns in which it operates, Union Pacific and NPF focused their partnership on strengthening and scaling NPF’s Open OutDoors for Kids program to contribute back to the communities where the railroad operates. As the largest private sponsor of Open OutDoors for Kids since 2018, Union Pacific has helped create pathways for nearly 373,000 kids within its communities to enjoy, understand and connect with nature through outdoor activity, experiential learning, and cultural heritage exercises. Through its long-term support extending through 2024, Union Pacific will independently build an entirely new generation of park explorers.
Union Pacific’s support to NPF also includes the release of the Junior Ranger Railroad Explorer booklet and a $1 million contribution to the establishment of Pullman National Monument.
Related Stories
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StoryEnvisioning Pullman Through an Artist's PerspectiveUnion Pacific and NPF celebrate the opening of the Pullman National Monument visitor center by commissioning artist Joe Nelson to create a vintage travel poster-inspired poster for the park.
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VideoCreating Pathways for Kids to Connect with ParksSee what an Open OutDoors for Kids grant, supported by Union Pacific, is helping make possible for rangers at San Antonio Missions National Historical Park.
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Corporate ConversationExploring America's National Parks with Union PacificNPF President and CEO Will Shafroth sits down with Scott Moore, Senior Vice President for Corporate Relations and Chief Administrative Officer for Union Pacific, to talk about the power of partnership, corporate commitments, and personal connections to our national parks.
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Q&A with Railroad EnthusiastsTrains of ThoughtNPF sits down with NPS Ranger Flor Blum and Union Pacific Collection Curator Patricia LaBounty, two passionate train and railroad enthusiasts.
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Coloring BookBringing Parks to LifePark lovers of all ages are invited to enjoy the coloring pages inspired by Joe Nelson's Pullman National Monument poster and Union Pacific's national park travel posters to celebrate our shared commitment to national parks.
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100 Years of Travel to ParksThe Golden Age of Rail TravelNPF and Union Pacific look back at what travel to national parks was like 100 years ago and the role railroads played in the formation of national parks.
Partner News
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UpdateNPF Increases its Commitment to Open OutDoors for Kids and Awards $5 Million in Grants
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Update$4.4 Million to Fund 99 Open OutDoors for Kids Projects for 2023 – 2024 School Year, Hitting Program Milestone
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Press ReleaseNational Park Foundation Invests $4.4 Million in Connecting Students to National Parks Across the Country
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UpdateNPF and Union Pacific Railroad Unveil New Mural Near Pullman National Historical Park
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Press ReleaseNational Park Foundation Honors Corporate Partners that Preserve and Enrich National Parks for Future Generations
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Press ReleaseNational Park Foundation Funds New and Expanded Learning Opportunities to Connect Kids to Parks
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Press ReleasePartnerships Spark Collaboration Benefiting Parks and Local Communities During National Park Week and Beyond
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Press ReleaseNational Park Foundation Funds Powerful and Innovative Learning Opportunities During Second Half of School Year
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Press ReleaseNational Park Foundation Celebrates Grand Opening of Pullman National Monument Visitor Center and State Historic Site Grounds
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Press ReleaseNational Park Foundation Provides Grants to Support National Park Service Education Programs During the COVID-19 Pandemic and Beyond
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Press ReleaseNational Park Foundation and Partners Share Commitment to Helping Parks Reach Their Fullest Potential
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Press ReleaseNational Park Foundation and Union Pacific Deepen Partnership to Connect an Entire Generation of Students to National Parks
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Press ReleaseNational Park Foundation Celebrates Companies that Help Connect People to the Wonder of National Parks
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UpdateDistance Learning on the Mississippi River
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Press ReleaseNational Park Foundation Honors 20,000+ National Park Service Employees with New Video Series
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Press ReleaseAll Aboard! New Junior Ranger Railroad Program Available Online
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Press ReleaseNational Park Foundation to Unveil New Instagram Stickers for National Park Week
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Press ReleaseNational Park Foundation Announces More than One Million Students have Engaged with National Parks as Classrooms
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Press ReleaseCorporate Support Elevates National Park Foundation Impact at National Parks Across the Country
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Press ReleaseUnion Pacific Announces National Park Foundation Partnership Encouraging Next Gen to Explore America's Backyard