Living in Partnership with Nature

What are your early memories of being in nature?
Every summer my family would drive from our home in rural Kentucky across the country to Wyoming to visit my mother’s family. I loved those big open spaces. One of my most vivid memories is seeing a herd of antelope running across Wyoming’s high desert plains. They were so majestic. I knew too that herds of bison had once roamed these same plains, but were now almost gone.

Why do you give to WWF?
WWF is a gold standard for wildlife conservation and it has the size to take on global challenges. I’ve gotten to travel to a number of countries where WWF works, and I’ve been impressed with the work on the ground and the respect local communities have for the organization. People I’ve met—from the Galápagos to Indonesia—are proud to be partnering with WWF, which is a true mark of quality programming.

It sounds like you’ve traveled quite a bit.
Yes, it’s been such a privilege to get to see some of the Earth’s most magnificent creatures in their natural habitats. When I travel to wild spaces around the world, I make it a practice to donate to organizations that are working to protect those places. I fear that some areas are in danger of being loved to death, and so I make gifts to conserve them that are equal to the cost of my trip.

What is your hope for the future of wildlife and wild places?
I would love to see a world where humanity has recognized a need to live in partnership with nature instead of trying to dominate it. One of the most important things parents can do for their children is to inspire a love of nature and appreciation and awe for the creatures of this world. That was a gift that my parents gave to me and my brother, and I am grateful.