On Saturday, April 23, 337 friends of Mount Rainier, North Cascades and Olympic National Parks came together for Washington's National Park Fund’s Spring Dinner & Auction.  More than $250,000 was raised for science/research, improving visitors’ experiences, and youth programs.  In celebration of the NPS Centennial, special guests included Jon Jarvis, Director of the National Park Service, and Jim Whittaker, first American to summit Mount Everest and first REI employee.  Save next year’s date:  Saturday, April 22, 2017.