Rocks Build America Foundation

In June 1998, the former National Stone Association Board of Directors endorsed a drive to raise $1 million to donate to the Smithsonian Institution's National Museum of Natural History in support of the creation of The Rocks Gallery in the museum's Janet Annenberg Hooker Hall of Geology, Gems and Minerals in Washington, D.C.

A focal point of The Rocks Gallery is the "Rocks Build Cities" exhibit, with samples of sand, crushed stone and gravel and descriptions and illustrations of how the materials are used to make asphalt and concrete for roads, sidewalks, buildings and other purposes.

The association created the Rocks Build America Foundation (RBAF), a 501c(3) tax-exempt organization and entered into an agreement with the Smithsonian for joint association-museum projects to assist in the education of the public on the uses and value of rock and rock products to society. RBAF collects, administers and disburses funds in support of the educational projects with the museum.

The RBAF Board of Trustees are Chairman Mark Towe, Oldcastle Materials Group; Vice Chairman and Treasurer Tony Basolo, Dolese Bros. Co.; Secretary Charles Luck, III, Luck Stone Corp.; Alan Murray, Hanson Building Materials America; Don James, Vulcan Materials Co.; Steve Zelnak, Martin Marietta Aggregates and, as ex-officio members, the President of NSSGA and the Chairman of the NSSGA Communications and Community Relations Division. NSSGA's Vice President for Communications and Community Relations is the Executive Director of RBAF.

The Rocks Gallery was made possible by the generous contributions of donors to RBAF.

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