Conservation Alliance Legacy Fund Continues to Grow

Bend, Ore., February 2, 2009 — Since launching the Legacy Fund Campaign in January 2008, The Conservation Alliance has raised $2.72 million in contributions and commitments. New gifts from KEEN, Inc., CamelBak, Leisure Trends, Stanley Outdoors, and several individuals have moved the total closer to the $3.5-million goal.

The Conservation Alliance Legacy fund is an endowment that, once fully funded, will provide a permanent source of operational funding for the organization. The Alliance launched the campaign in January 2008 with initial commitments from The North Face, REI, Merrell, Dansko, Patagonia, CamelBak, and former board president Menno van Wyk. The Legacy Fund now holds contributions from 34 companies and individuals.

“Our members are rising to a steep challenge because they want The Conservation Alliance to be a permanent force in the outdoor industry,” said John Sterling, Executive Director of The Conservation Alliance.

Though the economic crisis has made that challenge steeper, the Alliance plans to conclude a successful endowment campaign in August 2009.

“We’re still hoping to reach our $3.5-million goal by reminding people that, despite the sputtering economy, the political landscape for conservation has never been this good,” said Sterling. “Now is the time to invest in conservation.”

For more information on The Conservation Alliance Legacy Fund, see www.conservationalliance.com/legacy.


About the Conservation Alliance:
The Conservation Alliance is an organization of outdoor businesses whose collective contributions support grassroots environmental organizations and their efforts to protect wild places where outdoor enthusiasts recreate. Alliance funds have played a key role in protecting rivers, trails, wildlands and climbing areas.

Membership in the Alliance is open to companies representing all aspects of the outdoor industry, including manufacturers, retailers, publishers, mills and sales representatives. The result is a diverse group of businesses whose livelihood depends on protecting our natural environment.

Since its inception in 1989, the Alliance has contributed more than $7 million to grassroots environmental groups. Alliance funding has helped save over 39 million acres of wildlands; 27 dams have either been stopped or removed; and the group helped preserve access to more than 16,000 miles of waterways and several climbing areas.

For complete information on the Conservation Alliance, see www.conservationalliance.com.

Media Contacts:
John Sterling
541-389-2424
john@conservationalliance.com

Kristin Carpenter-Ogden
970-259-3555
kco@verdepr.com