AUSTIN— For the eighth year in a row, Whole Earth Provision Co. will support Texas State Parks throughout the month of April during their “April is Texas State Parks Month” fund drive at all seven store locations across the state. The Texas-based travel, adventure and nature store will give all funds gathered during the effort to help fund state parks’ day-to-day operational expenses, including enhanced visitor programs, park trail maps and facilities maintenance.

“Texas is rich in natural resources. Not just oil and gas, timber and wind (and abundant hot air!), but in resources enjoyed daily by families and friends across the state. I’m talking about our Texas State Parks,” says Jack Jones, Whole Earth Provision Co. founder and owner. “Some of the most beautiful and historic places in our state – beaches, mountains, rivers, forests, canyons and plains, are available for all of us to enjoy. Whole Earth Provision Co. is proud to partner with our Texas State Parks and looks forward to visiting the new parks that will be opening in the coming years.”

Throughout April, customers at the seven Whole Earth Provision Co. locations in Austin, Dallas, Houston and San Antonio will have the option to donate to Texas State Parks at check-out counters.

For every $20 or more donated, Whole Earth will give customers a $5 state parks gift card, redeemable for park entrance fees, park passes and merchandise at state park stores. If the customer donates $50 or more, they will receive a Whole Earth branded Nalgene bottle and a $5 state parks gift card. Donate $100 or more and receivea Ft. Lonesome custom Texas Patch, a Whole Earth Nalgene Water Bottle and a $5 state parks gift card.

In addition, state park rangers will be handing out Texas State Park Guides at all seven locations from 2-4 p.m. on April 14. They will also offer information and answer questions about the various activities people can enjoy in state parks, including swimming, hiking, fishing, nature walks, caving, paddling, stargazing and mountain biking.

“Texas State Parks is incredibly thankful for the partnership and generosity of Whole Earth Provision Co.,” says Rodney Franklin, Director of Texas State Parks. “Not only does Whole Earth help raise awareness for the outdoor gems of Texas, they also help fund items such as trail maps that are used daily by over 8 million visitors to State Parks each year.  As Texas State Parks enters into its Centennial celebration in the next few years, I am very excited to see our partnership with Whole Earth continue to help Texas remain one of the top state parks systems in the nation.”

Most urbanites are closer to a state park than they might imagine. There are 12 state parks within an hour’s drive of Austin, nine within an hour’s drive of San Antonio, eight within a 60-minute drive of the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex and seven parks an hour or less drive from Houston. Mild weather and blooming wildflowers make spring the ideal time to visit any one of these parks.

In the last seven years, Whole Earth Provision Company has donated more than $208,000 to Texas State Parks. These funds are a direct result of donations received during Texas State Parks Month, as well as from ticket sales from the Banff Centre Mountain Film Festival World Tour, which Whole Earth has sponsored for the past decade.

Texas State Parks provide an affordable and healthy way to spend time with family and friends. Children 12 and younger get in free. For more information about visiting Texas State Parks, visit: http://www.texasstateparks.org/.