Nancy Russell’s Bequest Funds Future Land Purchases

As the founder of Friend of the Columbia Gorge and the person most responsible for the creation of the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area, Nancy was known local, regionally and nationally for her tenacious commitment to protecting the Columbia Gorge. Nancy also served as her own land trust, acquired 33 Gorge properties in her lifetime, a third of which she sold or donated to government agencies for conservation purposes. Prior to her death, she was interested in seeing Friends of the Columbia Gorge start a land trust and hold her remaining properties indefinitely. She made arrangements in her will to help fund the creation of a land trust, but the arrival of the Yeon bequest allowed the land trust to be created prior to her death and she served as one of the first trustees. Her will left the organization her remaining properties and funds to maintain her lands and buy new lands. Nancy was also a big believer that the day to day operations were critical to protect the Gorge, so she also made a restricted gift to the general operations of the organization.