I Ling Thompson
“The outdoors better our communities and make us better humans.”
I Ling Thompson with her father who she says always made time to take the family on camping trips.
To honor the late Charles Gresham, Trust for Public Land established the Gresham Challenge, with $1 million from his generous estate gift designated to inspire others to give. Keep reading to meet one of the first Legacy Partners to answer this call, ensuring healthy, livable communities for generations to come.
What inspired you to take the Gresham Challenge?
The majority of my professional career has been focused on contributing to the greater good of society. Once I really connected with nature in my 20s through adventure racing, I found myself. I was hooked, and it was at that point that connecting more people to nature became my life’s purpose. I specifically wanted to support Trust for Public Land’s ability to tell stories about the powerful ways that access to nature and the outdoors better our communities and make us better humans. I saw the Gresham Challenge as a powerful way to double my impact and invest in the next generation of storytellers who will carry the mission into the future.
What would you like to say to future generations about the importance of land and access to nature?
The ability to enjoy the outdoors is a privilege so many do not have. It’s in our power—through our words, actions, influence and giving—to create a new future where everyone has access to the outdoors.
What’s one of your favorite memories in nature or your favorite park or on public land?
My father was a camp counselor at the YMCA in Athens, Georgia, and despite being an on-the-go Air Force officer, he always made time to take our family on camping trips. My favorite memory was spending the day at Slippery Rock in Tallulah Gorge (now a state park). Back then, it was a place for locals to park alongside a mountain highway and bushwhack down to the river with coolers in tow. We’d spend the day picnicking and sliding down the rocks in the gorge.
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