CamelBak Bottle Sales Fundraiser a Huge Success at Summer OR

A total of $10,000 was raised by CamelBak for the Outdoor Industries Women’s Coalition (OIWC) and the Women’s Wilderness Institute from sales of the new CamelBak Bottle during Summer Outdoor Retailer. This marks the second trade show season where CamelBak has sold the Bottles for donation to non-profit organizations dedicated to getting more people involved in the outdoors.

“This marks another successful fundraising effort made possible by the generous support of the members of the Outdoor Industry” said Mac Tillman, VP of Marketing and Product Management at CamelBak. “We are thankful that in 2006, CamelBak has been able to support a number of worthy non-profits; globally raising over $55,000 through Bottle sales at Winter OR, SIA, Friedrichshafen Outdoor, EuroBike & Summer OR.”

“OIWC is very grateful to CamelBak for supporting us through the bottle sales at Outdoor Retailer,” said Sally Grimes, OIWC Director. “We will use the funds to expand our professional development initiative for OIWC members. Our next big project is to create a members-only section of the website where members can access trainings, educational materials and seminars in the form of podcasts, downloads, video streaming, etc. In addition, members will have access to each other, opening up the ability to find other women who work in their specific area of expertise, sharing experience and advise with each other.”

About the Outdoor Industries Women’s Coalition
The OIWC is a non-profit association of women organized for the purpose of equipping women to reach their professional success in the outdoor industries via educational programming, networking and mentoring. OIWC acts as a vehicle to promote the views and interests of women engaged in or impassioned by the outdoor, snow sports, action sports, and bicycling industries. OIWC invites all women to become members and to lead our industries to positive solutions in business, social and environmental issues.

About the Women’s Wilderness Institute
Since 1998, The Women’s Wilderness Institute, a non-profit organization, has built outdoor skills, confidence, and leadership for over 2,000 women and girls. The Girls’ Wilderness Program serves girls of all income levels on 6- to 12-day backcountry expeditions designed to help teen girls discover the power of their own voices, within an innovative, ‘girl-positive’ program model designed specifically to meet the needs and issues of girls. Over 50% of participants in the girls’ program need financial assistance, and since the inception of the program, no low-income girl has been turned away for lack of funds. The Women’s Program offers fun, inspiring, ‘real-life’ outdoor adventures that provide rejuvenation and high quality skills instruction in rock climbing, mountain biking, backpacking, backcountry yoga retreats, canoeing, and flyfishing, and wilderness writing.

About CamelBak
CamelBak Products, LLC. is the originator of the Hands-Free Hydration system. Since 1991, CamelBak’s state of the art packs and hydration systems have benefited athletes, outdoor enthusiasts, and soldiers around the world. CamelBak continues to deliver innovative hydration products to the market with the belief in the performance advantage that proper hydration can deliver in any situation. The company is a privately held portfolio company of Bear Stearns Merchant Banking (BSMB) and is headquartered in Petaluma, California.

About BSMB
BSMB, the private equity affiliate of The Bear Stearns Companies Inc. (NYSE: BSC), invests private equity capital in compelling leveraged buyouts, recapitalizations and growth capital opportunities alongside superior management teams. Since its formation in 1997, BSMB has been an investor in over 50 portfolio companies across a broad range of industries. Recent investments by BSMB include: ACA Capital Holdings, Aearo Technologies (exited in 2006), Balducci’s, CamelBak Products, Cavalry Investments, Churchill Financial Holdings, Hand Innovations (exited in 2006), Multi Packaging Solutions, New York & Company (NYSE: NWY), Reddy Ice (NYSE: FRZ), Seven For All Mankind, Stuart Weitzman, Transamerican Auto Parts Company and Vitamin Shoppe. More information about BSMB can be found at www.bsmb.com.