History:

Our originator, Arthur R. Marshall (1919-1985) was a leading figure in virtually every public issue that had to do with preserving the natural systems of Florida for over 30 years. He played a major role in stopping the Cross Florida Barge Canal, keeping the jetport out of the Big Cypress Swamp, developing a plan for both the dechannelization of the Kissimmee River and the restoration of natural hydrological patterns in the Florida Everglades. He wrote what is referred to as the Marshall Plan, a blueprint for Everglades restoration that is viable today. In the plan he emphasized the need for 'sheet flow', the slow motion of surface water with the minimum of channeling which allows the area surface water to be shared over a much larger wetlands area to the south.

Marjory Stoneman Douglas, nationally recognized as the first lady of conservation and constant advocate for the Everglades planted the original seeds of this organization in 1982 with the first donation to her friend and associate, Art Marshall to start the Arthur R. Marshall Foundation and Florida Environmental Institute. In her autobiography Douglas states 'Although my phrase River of Grass first awakened people to the notion of the Everglades as a river, it was Art Marshall who filled in all the blanks.'

The Arthur R. Marshall Loxahatchee National Wildlife Refuge was renamed for Marshall on February 10, 1988; the eminent scholar chair at the University of Florida, Department of Zoology is named after Art as well as the Fellowship and Scholar programs through Florida Atlantic Universities, College of Education at Pine Jog Environmental Education Center.

About Us:

Founded in 1998, the Marshall Foundation has three goals; restoring original plant life and water flow patterns to the greater Everglades ecosystem, educating young people and the public about Everglades ecology, and delivering the message of restoration to as many people as possible through comprehensive public outreach programs. In recent years, the Marshall Foundation has planted over 80,000 native Florida trees in wetland areas, awarded over $250,000 in scholarships and internships, and involved more than 5,000 volunteers in hands-on restoration projects.