4. The National Geographic Society is one of the world’s largest nonprofit scientific and educational organizations. Founded in 1888 to “increase and diffuse geographic knowledge,” the Society’s mission is to inspire people to care about the planet. Throughout its 122-year history, the Society has encouraged conservation of natural resources and raised public awareness of the importance of natural places, the plants and wildlife that inhabit them, and the environmental problems that threaten them. National Geographic’s explorers, writers and photographers have traveled the Earth, sharing its amazing stories with each new generation. The Society has funded more than 9,200 scientific research, conservation and exploration projects around the globe, and grantees make exciting new discoveries every day in both traditional and emerging fields.
7. "The vast membership of the National Geographic Society, not only in the United States but in every civilized country of the world, has been built up through the years solely by the enthusiastic interest of the members themselves who take their time and give their effort to interesting their friends and acquaintances in joining, and in nominating them with no return for their trouble beyond the satisfaction of helping a world-wide educational project." ***** "It must be remembered that the member in Australia, in the Fiji Islands, or in Greenland is as much of The National Geographic Society and its Magazine as does any officer or Washington member." ~ Oliver LaGorce, 1932
