$5.5M donation hits $10M goal to protect land near Jackie and Shadow's nest

A massive donation from a tech industry couple has pushed a years-long conservation effort over the finish line — potentially blocking a lakeside development that Big Bear Valley residents and eagle fans have fought for decades. Friends of Big Bear Valley announced Friday that OpenAI co-founder Greg Brockman and his wife Anna donated $5.5 million to the nonprofit's fundraiser to purchase land near Jackie and Shadow's nest along the Big Bear Lake shoreline, hitting the campaign's $10 million goal[1].

The timing carries extra emotional weight. Eagle Jackie is currently in critical condition at the Ojai Raptor Center, battling severe anemia after being rescued from the Big Bear Lake shoreline. She received a life-saving blood transfusion, and as of Thursday, July 24, had shown some renewed feistiness — but her prognosis remains uncertain[1].

"I'm so happy for this," said Jenny Voisard, website and media manager for Friends of Big Bear Valley. "I think we needed a little bit of good news given Jackie's situation."[1]

The parcel at stake is considered the last undeveloped sliver of Big Bear Lake's shoreline and what the nonprofit calls critical foraging habitat for the eagles[1]. Last September, the San Bernardino Board of Supervisors approved a 50-home, 55-slip marina project called Moon Camp on the land, with county officials stating the development would not harm the raptors[1]. The Brockmans' gift now brings the land's purchase within reach.

Despite drawing 25,000 individual donations, the campaign hadn't cracked the halfway mark before the Brockmans got involved. Anna Brockman first reached out to the nonprofit through a representative just before the Fourth of July[1]. In a statement, she described the eagles as a source of inspiration. "They inspire perseverance and a sense of connectedness to something greater, to nature," she said. "We are proud to be supportive."[1]

The San Bernardino Mountains Land Trust will use the funds to purchase the parcel and cover closing costs, taxes, legal fees, and some ongoing land maintenance. In a notable shift, the land trust has decided not to transfer the property to the U.S. Forest Service as originally planned, opting to retain ownership instead[1].

The fundraiser was launched in February and carries deep personal significance for the nonprofit. Sandy Steers, the late former executive director of Friends of Big Bear Valley, helped broker the land deal with developers before passing away shortly before the campaign began[1].

Reaction to Jackie's health remains the community's most pressing concern. The Ojai Raptor Center was expected to provide an update on her condition by Monday. Supporters can follow her recovery and the land acquisition progress through Friends of Big Bear Valley's website and social channels.

Note: San Bernardino County officials and Moon Camp developers — who have maintained the project would not harm the eagles — had not yet responded publicly to the fundraising success at the time of publication.