The Everglades Foundation is a nonprofit organization established in 1993 by billionaire investor Paul Tudor Jones and developer George Barley to address the environmental decline of the Florida Everglades ecosystem[3]. Motivated by their personal connection to the area and a seagrass die-off threatening their fishing grounds, the founders created the organization to promote the restoration and preservation of this unique and fragile watershed, which stretches from the Kissimmee River near Orlando to Florida Bay at the peninsula’s southern tip[3]. The foundation’s mission centers on scientific research, advocacy, and public education aimed at restoring water flow, reducing pollution, and protecting the Everglades from threats like invasive species, climate change, and urban development[3]. Their work supports large-scale projects such as the Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan (CERP), the largest hydrologic restoration project in U.S. history, which involves federal and state cooperation to restore natural water flow and improve ecosystem health[5]. Historically, the Everglades was a vast "river of grass," home to indigenous peoples like the Calusa and Tequesta, who lived sustainably in the region’s complex wetlands[1]. Over the 20th century, large-scale drainage, canal construction, and agricultural development drastically shrank and degraded the ecosystem, leading to significant biodiversity loss and water quality issues[1][2]. The Everglades Foundation emerged as a leading voice in reversing these trends through science-based policy and collaborative restoration efforts[3]. Key achievements include influencing legislation, funding scientific studies, and engaging diverse stakeholders to protect the Everglades’ unique ecology and water resources. The organization remains active today, headquartered in Palmetto Bay, Florida, with continued emphasis on balancing environmental preservation with the region’s economic and social needs[3]. Notably, the foundation’s origins blend philanthropy, business acumen, and environmental passion, reflecting a modern model of conservation driven by private initiative and scientific rigor in the face of complex ecological challenge