Making Her Mark on the Gorge

When Karey Reid moved to the Pacific Northwest ten years ago, she quickly realized that she was living near one of the unheralded wonders of the world - the Columbia River Gorge. Karey still remembers her first hike with Friends of the Columbia Gorge, and how Friends Executive Director, Kevin Gorman, spoke on the hike about acquiring property for Gorge Towns to Trails. She was impressed by the concept and its potential to integrate conservation, recreation, and community vitality. Karey joined Friends as a member shortly after that hike. Preserving the Gorge for future generations of people and wildlife is a key priority for Karey, as it is for most Friends members. Following the 2017 Eagle Creek fire, she observed how Friends helped turn the public's despair into hope for the future by putting the devastating fire into a larger historical and ecological context. That fall, Karey decided to include Friends in her estate plans as a way of protecting the things that matter most to her - the wonder of nature and the health of the environment. She hopes more and more people will recognize the important work that Friends does, and will join her in leaving a legacy that is good for people, for nature, and for the future. Thank you Karey, for protecting the Gorge for future generations!

"The Columbia River Gorge is an indescribably precious natural wonder, and it's right here where we live! We are the people who know it personally, so we must be the ones who take responsibility for protecting it - its pristine wildness, its beauty and balance, and its ability to nourish our spirit by simply existing. For me, it is a privilege to contribute financially to Friends of the Columbia Gorge, because their leadership has long proven itself in influencing the wise management of this spectacular geological treasure."