Foundation Partners

As a Member of the Portola and Castle Rock Foundation, you join a team dedicated to preserving and enhancing our State Parks. Several leading organizations have provided generous grants to the Foundation to help us help Parks, and to help the Foundation grow stronger.

The California State Parks Foundation has been very generous in helping the Foundation grow stronger. In 2022 CSPF provided us with a grant that funded a new water station in Portola Redwoods State Park. In 2020 CSPF provided us with a grant that funded lead paint removal in Portola Redwoods State Park. In 2018 CSPF provided us with a grant for Earth Day activities at Castle Rock State Park. In 2017 CSPF provided us with a grant for Earth Day activities at Portola Redwoods State Park. In 2015 CSPF provided us with a Grant to initiate a Graffiti Removal Program at Castle Rock State Park.  In 2014 CSPF provided us with a generous Grant to facilitate the rebuilding of the Ramada structure at Portola Redwoods State Park.  CSPF also provided us with a Grant of consulting time from the nonprofit consulting firm Klein and Roth.  In addition,  CSPF provided us with Grants in 2014 and 2015 to facilitate our transition into a membership organization.  California State Parks Foundation has many programs to aid our State Parks.

In 2019 the California Wildlands Grassroots Fund of the Rose Foundation awarded PCRF a grant of $2,100 to support park volunteer docent training and interpretive programs. In 2014 they gave us a grant of $3,740 for training volunteer trail patrollers and docents.

REI Co-op awarded us grants in 2012, 2013 and 2014 to defray costs of training State Park  volunteers, and for interpretive signage. They have also frequently donated gear for PCRF to use as appreciation gifts to our members and volunteers. In addition, REI has generously allowed our volunteers to engage with prospective supporters and members at their stores in San Carlos, Mountain View, and Saratoga, and to hold our Board of Directors meetings at those locations.

The Portola and Castle Rock Foundation has also been greatly aided by the partners we have worked with to enter into Donor Agreements with California State Parks to keep our Parks open.

Sempervirens Fund has been a strong supporter of Castle Rock State Park since its creation in 1968 and recently completed its 37th land protection project to expand and add to the park. The Donor Agreement between Sempervirens Fund and State Parks (with our support), to prevent Castle Rock State Park from closing was signed in May 2012. Sempervirens Fund contributed over $250,000 to keep Castle Rock open and this agreement has been extended by State Parks every year.

Sempervirens Fund funded and constructed new facilities at Castle Rock that will make the Park. These improvements established Castle Rock as Silicon Valley’s gateway into the Santa Cruz Mountains.

Peninsula Open Space Trust joined both of the major engagements to preserve and enhance Portola Redwoods State Park in 2012; POST signed and financially supported the Donor Agreement which keeps the park open. They also teamed with Save The Redwoods League in the acquisition of the Peters Creek Redwoods with their strong financial resources.

Both Save the Redwoods League and Peninsula Open Space Trust have teamed with Portola and Castle Rock Foundation and State Parks to implement a plan for sustainability of Portola Redwoods State Park.  This plan includes investment in infrastructure improvements.

In 2014 Save the Redwoods League, POST and the Portola and Castle Rock Foundation, along with California State Parks Foundation, funded the replacement of the Ramada structure.  Construction was completed in 2017.