Greg Brockman and Wife Anna Brockman Donate $5.5M Million to Save Big Bear Eagle Habitat

OpenAI co-founder and president Greg Brockman and his wife, Anna Brockman, donated $5.5 million to preserve 63 acres of land near Big Bear Lake, California. The contribution pushes a community-led fundraiser past its $10 million goal to protect the primary hunting grounds of famous bald eagles Jackie and Shadow.

Credit: FriendsOfBigBearValley.org

The non-profit organization Friends of Big Bear Valley announced the successful fundraising drive on Friday. More than 25,000 individual donors contributed nearly $5 million over several months before the Brockmans provided the final funds required to buy the property.

The San Bernardino Mountains Land Trust will finalize the purchase of the land, known as Moon Camp, by July 31. A commercial developer had previously planned to construct luxury homes and a private marina on the site.

In an official statement, Anna Brockman explained the motivation behind their financial support.

"Greg and I are grateful to all those who championed saving the home of these majestic eagles, Jackie and Shadow," Anna Brockman said.

"Like many people around the world, we love watching them be amazing partners to one another and raise their young. They inspire perseverance and a sense of connectedness to something greater, to nature. We are proud to be supportive. We are so appreciative of the San Bernardino Mountains Land Trust and everyone who came together to preserve this incredible ecosystem, the life it will help sustain, and the forest that will be protected for generations to come."

Moon Camp sits along the northern shoreline of Big Bear Lake, less than one mile from the active nesting tree of Jackie and Shadow. Environmental evaluations dating back to the 1980s noted that construction on this specific parcel would cause severe damage to regional biological resources.

The 63-acre area is the last remaining undeveloped shoreline on Big Bear Lake. The forest habitat shelters native species including the San Bernardino flying squirrel, wintering waterfowl, and the rare ash-gray Indian paintbrush plant.

Credit: FriendsOfBigBearValley.org

Friends of Big Bear Valley spokeswoman Jenny Voisard highlighted the broad public support that drove the campaign.

"I'm grateful for everyone that donated, that didn't have extra money, or that sacrificed, or that sold things, or that did fundraisers," Voisard said.

Former executive director Sandy Steers spent two decades working to protect the property and led negotiations with the landowner before her death. Preservation of Moon Camp served as her primary objective during her tenure with the organization.

Friends of Big Bear Valley confirmed that extra funds raised beyond the $10 million purchase price will go into a permanent stewardship fund. The land trust will use those resources to maintain and protect the forest habitat.