Bill and Melinda Gates' $250,000 Gift Moves Loomis Forest Fund Closer to Goal

SEATTLE -- The Loomis Forest Fund today announced a $250,000 gift from Bill and Melinda Gates to support the $13.8 million fundraising effort to preserve 25,000 acres of wilderness forest and critical wildlife habitat in north-central Washington. With the Gates' gift, the Loomis Forest Fund has raised $7.85 million to date. The Fund currently faces a July 1 deadline to raise the fair market value of the wildlands to spare them from roading and logging. The monies go to compensate the Common School Construction Trust Fund.

"We are grateful for the Gates' generous gift," said campaign director Fred Munson. "This donation is further evidence of the enormous support there is for saving the Loomis Forest. To date, more than 4,500 citizens from all corners of the state have contributed to the Fund. With just weeks to go, we hope that this latest gift will inspire additional support from the citizens."

"Bill and Melinda have a special interest in Pacific Northwest projects, and they are proud to support the important fundraising efforts of the Loomis Forest Fund," said Bill Gates, Sr., director of the William H. Gates Foundation.

Under an agreement with the state, a precious 25,000-acre section of the forest will be protected from logging and development in exchange for its appraised value of more than $13 million. These funds do double-duty, both protecting in perpetuity this wilderness as well as helping to build Washington public schools. "The Loomis campaign is great for the environment and great for Washington's public schools and students. It is a classic win-win for everyone," said Munson.