Great Parks Forever, the philanthropic partner of Great Parks, has secured $2 million in community donations to fully activate a $2 million matching gift from The Farmer Family Foundation. This $4 million adds to a $3 million gift announced by The Farmer Family Foundation last year, to push the total value to $7 million. Great Parks will apply these funds to projects requested by the public, including new trails and a blueway system, improved access to conservation areas and work to build ecological resiliency and sustainability.

“When The Farmer Family Foundation challenged us with this matching gift, we knew it would take tremendous community support to achieve the full value of the gift for the generations of today and the future,” said Tom Carleton, chief of philanthropy, Great Parks. “We are grateful for their leadership with this gift, because it has proven how powerful the combination of private philanthropy can be in leveraging taxpayer funding to build the park system the public wants to see from Great Parks.”

The Farmer Family Foundation matching gift was available through June 30, 2025. 

“Congratulations to Great Parks for achieving the full $2 million match for the Go Big capital campaign,” said Robert Coletti, chair, Farmer Family Foundation. “We are impressed with Great Parks’ ability to garner community support for its important conservation work as well as its plan to activate and improve access to trails, parks, and waterways that make Greater Cincinnati a thriving community.”

Recent major gifts that helped to secure the full match from The Farmer Family Foundation include: 

• An Anonymous Foundation 
• The BMW Store/Cincinnati MINI
• Charles H. Dater Foundation, Inc. 
• Helen G., Henry F. and Louise Tuechter Dornette Foundation, Fifth Third Bank, N.A., Trustee 
• Carol Ann & Ralph V. Haile, Jr. Foundation
• Frank J Kloenne & Jacqueline D Kloenne Foundation, Fifth Third Bank, N.A., Trustee
• Kroger Co. Foundation
• Louise Taft Semple Foundation 
• Millstone Fund 
• William S. Ostrander Memorial Fund
• Sutphin Family Foundation.
• Wym and Jan Portman
• James and Melissa Wilz
• William Garnett & the late Gina Gerwin Garnett
• An anonymous donor

These gifts are helping Great Parks continue to meet the goals and priorities the public identified through their input into the Comprehensive Master Plan.

Great Parks Forever has an ambitious goal to raise $50 million to supplement taxpayer funding and enable major initiatives now moving forward from the Comprehensive Master Plan. These include the addition of 50+ internal trail miles and 10+ regional trail miles through projects such as the Glenwood Gardens to Winton Woods Trail and the Oasis Trail. Additional examples of work under the plan include the West Region Blueway & Trails System and upgrades to Bass Island for improved access to the Little Miami State and National Scenic River. Many more projects are planned, with updates available at greatparks.org/projects.

More information about Great Parks Forever is available at forever.greatparks.org or by contacting Tom Carleton, Great Parks chief of philanthropy, at [email protected].

 (Note to editors: Picture of Tom Carleton is available in the Dropbox link below. 

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About Great Parks

Great Parks’ mission is to preserve and protect natural resources and to provide outdoor recreation and education in order to enhance the quality of life for present and future generations. For additional information, visit www.greatparks.org or call 513-521-7275. Great Parks Forever, the philanthropic partner of Great Parks, translates an early conservation promise into everyday experiences and lasting legacies. For additional information, please visit GreatParksForever.org.

About The Farmer Family Foundation
The Farmer Family Foundation is diligent in identifying programs with the potential to make a significant impact and transform peoples’ lives. The focus is on philanthropic investments that meet essential community needs and those that ensure Greater Cincinnati is thriving. The Foundation prioritizes investments that enhance K-12 education for at-risk individuals and enable economic self-sufficiency. Beyond Greater Cincinnati, investments are selectively made to support health care research. 

Trustees – Joyce Farmer, Robert Coletti, Scott and Mary Farmer, Amy F. and George Joseph and Kendell Coletti Mountain.