Silicon-valley entrepreneur Steve Blank and his wife, Alison Elliott, have donated $1 million to POST.
The money benefits the nonprofit organization's Save the Endangered Coast campaign, pushing it past the $170 million mark closer to the $200 million goal.
 Silicon Valley entrepreneur Steve Blank, who owns a ranch in Pescadero near the Ano Nuevo State Reserve, has donated $1 million to Peninsula Open Space Trust. |
"We're really interested in helping to stop development on the coast and saving land, not only for us but for the kids," he said.
"It's a gift that'll keep on giving for multiple generations."
Blank has been involved with eight Silicon Valley start-up companies during the past 24 years as a co-founder or executive.
He was most recently the co-founder of E.piphany, an enterprise software company.
Though he and his family reside in Menlo Park, they intend to move to their large ranch in Pescadero.
"We're planning to retire here and we want to not just take but give," he said.
Since last autumn, POST has been working to complete the transaction with the Elliott-Blank Family Foundation.
Now that the day has finally arrived, POST President Audrey Rust said she's nothing short of thrilled.
In the wake of the dot-com bust, when large donations have been scarce, Rust sees Blank's gift as a sign of good things to come.
"Not only is $1 million a fabulous amount of money and able to help us accomplish a great deal, but it's a signal the philanthropic community is coming back," she said.
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