DONOR SPOTLIGHT: Samantha Campbell

Samantha Campbell is the president of The Campbell Foundation, which focuses on elevating environmental issues in our culture and engaging in partnerships that increase the vibrancy of communities.

Why do you think American history documentaries are relevant in today’s world?
Films can impact an audience in an immediate and visceral way that results in lasting ideas and feelings. American history documentaries can impart how past events connect directly to how we live our lives today. Well-researched and cinematic storytelling can be the best way to learn lessons from the past.

What made you decide to support The American Buffalo?
To me, this film is an excellent example of a conservation success story. From the heartbreaking near-demise of an iconic animal, to the communal efforts made to reverse that trend, The American Buffalo shows how our collective survival can be understood through the story of a culturally and ecologically significant species. And we all depend on Ken Burns to make the past come alive in ways that enrich us. 

You are also generously supporting an upcoming film, Henry David Thoreau; what drew you to this film?
I look forward to seeing how the Ewers Brothers explore both the environmental and social justice issues that were championed by this American nonconformist. When I learned more about plans for the film, I was excited by the lesser-known aspects of Thoreau that would be woven into the story.