Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District’s Board of Directors Honored for Environmental Conservation, at Loma Prieta Chapter’s 2026 Guardians of Nature Benefit
Palo Alto, CA, Aug 12, 2026: Sierra Club’s Loma Prieta Chapter has selected the Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District’s (Midpen) Board of Directors as their 2026 Guardians of Nature Honoree. The Guardians of Nature Benefit is an annual event presented by the Loma Prieta Chapter to honor environmental champions in San Benito, San Mateo, and Santa Clara Counties.
Each year, the Chapter’s Executive Committee chooses the Guardians of Nature Honoree based on nominations from Political, Conservation, and Outings Committees’ leadership.
For more than half a century Midpen, tasked with protecting, restoring, and providing ecologically sensitive access to the natural landscapes of the Santa Cruz Mountains and surrounding foothills, has stewarded thousands of acres of open space, preserved wildlife habitat, safeguarded local biodiversity, and helped people connect with nature close to home. Since its creation, Midpen has protected more than 70,000 acres of land, ensuring the long-term preservation of some of the region’s most iconic open spaces.
“The current Board exemplifies the best of Midpen's mission and dedication,” said Sue Chow, Loma Prieta Chapter Executive Committee Chair. “During the past several years, Midpen has helped permanently protect more than 6,000 additional acres of open space, strengthening wildlife corridors and expanding the region’s interconnected network of protected lands, including through the integration of major conservation areas such as Cloverdale Ranch.”
The seven members of Midpen’s Board of Directors are Craig Gleason, Yoriko Kishimoto, Jed Cyr, Curt Riffle, Karen Holman, Margaret MacNiven, and Zoe Kersteen-Tucker.
Chapter Director James Eggers said, “Through the years, Midpen’s Board of Directors has remained an important ally in advancing shared conservation goals with the Loma Prieta Chapter. These efforts include protecting sensitive wildlife species such as mountain lions, preserving ecologically sensitive areas, and prioritizing wildlife connectivity through habitat linkages and safe crossing solutions, such as under-crossings near Alma Bridge Road that benefit vulnerable species like newts. We’re proud to honor them at this year’s Benefit.”
The 2026 Guardians of Nature benefit will be held on Friday, September 25, 2026, 6:00 - 9:00 pm, at the Mitchell Park Community Center in Palo Alto. Sponsorship opportunities are available, and tickets are available for purchase at an Early Bird discounted rate through September 1st. This year’s celebration marks the 12th Annual Guardians of Nature Benefit at which we honor an outstanding environmental Guardian and helps raise funds critical to ensuring that the Chapter fulfills its mission of safeguarding the local environment today and for generations to come.
About Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District
Created in 1972, Midpen is an independent special district that helps plants, animals and people thrive throughout the greater Santa Cruz Mountains region by preserving a connected greenbelt of more than 70,000 acres of public open space. These diverse and scenic landscapes, from Bay wetlands to redwood forests and Coastal grasslands, host an incredible diversity of life, making our region one of the world’s biodiversity hotspots.
Learn more about Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District.
About Sierra Club’s Loma Prieta Chapter
The Loma Prieta Chapter is the local face of Sierra Club, serving San Benito, San Mateo, and Santa Clara Counties. The Chapter offers opportunities to become involved and actively contribute time, talents, skills, and funds to the local environmental work of the Sierra Club.
Learn more about Loma Prieta Chapter’s 2026 Guardians of Nature Benefit.