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MISSOULA, Mont.—The Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation has received a national award accompanied by a grant from the Kodak American Greenways Awards Program.

The honor was given for the Elk Foundation’s conservation efforts at Theodore Roosevelt’s treasured Elkhorn Ranch near Medora, N.D. Along with many partners and supporters, the Elk Foundation helped lead an initiative that in 2007 placed the 5,200-acre historic ranch into federal ownership for the public to hunt, appreciate and enjoy.

The $2,500 grant will help provide signage on the Elkhorn Ranch.

Since 1992, the Kodak American Greenways Awards—administered by The Conservation Fund, a recognized leader in working with local communities to expand the nation’s network of open spaces—has provided more than 630 seed grants to nonprofit organizations and government agencies to help develop new greenway projects.  The awards are meant to provide initial funding to spark creativity in conservation, outdoor recreation and trail and greenway development. To date, the program has distributed roughly $764,000.

The Elk Foundation is one of 31 groups nationwide honored for innovative conservation efforts.

“We appreciate the support of the Kodak American Greenways Program. Their support will help us protect Theodore Roosevelt’s conservation legacy on his North Dakota ranch,” said Rod Triepke, chief operations officer for the Elk Foundation.

“This year’s award winners represent some of the best grassroots conservation and greenway development efforts in the United States,” said The Conservation Fund's president, Larry Selzer. “The Fund is proud to support these thoughtful, action-oriented local initiatives that will serve as models for other communities around the country.”

The Kodak American Greenways Awards are made possible through the generous support of the Eastman Kodak Company. As the world’s imaging leader, Kodak sets the standard in traditional picture taking, while working to bring the latest in digital imaging technologies to the marketplace. The Kodak American Greenways Awards Grants Review Committee consists of conservation experts from around the country. The committee selected grant recipients this year from a pool of 130 qualified applicants.