ExOfficio Joins Cascade Land Conservancy on Duwamish Riverbend Hill

Tukwila, WA – In its continuous effort to financially support and participate in local environmental projects, ExOfficio, a leading maker of adventure travel apparel, is joining the Cascade Land Conservancy (CLC) to help restore the Duwamish River. ExOfficio will kickoff its on-going initiative at the third annual Duwamish Alive! event on Saturday, October 13, 2007 from 10am to 2pm at the Duwamish Riverbend Hill.

Duwamish Alive! is a biannual event sponsored by a coalition of non-profit groups and government agencies. Hundreds of volunteers participate in the events to reclaim the river by weeding invasive plants, mulching planting areas, planting native trees and shrubs, and picking up trash and debris. Last year’s Duwamish Alive! Autumn event brought together over 210 volunteers at six riverfront sites. For more information, visit http://www.pugetsound.org/index/duwamishalive.

“ExOfficio planted its roots in Tukwila three years ago and during that time we have all enjoyed recreating in the parks and walkways along the Duwamish River Valley,” said Steve Bendzak, general manager of ExOfficio. “We are proud to be able to join forces with the Cascade Land Conservancy on this sustainable community project where we can take pleasure in the results.”

The Duwamish Riverbend Hill property consists of a unique outcropping of bedrock rising above the Duwamish River, as well as 600 feet of river shoreline. The property is culturally significant for its association with southern Puget Sound Salish oral tradition and history, as a key location in the stories collectively known as the “Epic of the Winds.”

Dagan Heavrin, ExOfficio’s environmental advocate who is spearheading the company’s Duwamish initiative, commented that the majority of ExOfficio employees will be volunteering at the Duwamish Alive! event. Heavrin added that this will be the first of many ExOfficio employee volunteer work days on the Duwamish Riverbend Hill.

“We are grateful for ExOfficio’s time, energy and generous contribution to the Duwamish Riverbend Hill project,” said Gene Duvernoy, president of the Cascade Land Conservancy. “From the beginning, community involvement has been crucial to the success of this project. The Hill is a great example of how a place can bring people together and strengthen community ties. ExOfficio should be applauded for getting involved and helping to create this tremendous asset for the diverse Tukwila community and the region.”

About the Duwamish Riverbend Hill Site
In 2001, Cascade Land Conservancy, the City of Tukwila, and a local citizen group formed a partnership to work for the preservation of an undeveloped parcel of land on the Duwamish River. The Duwamish Riverbend Hill property was successfully acquired in March 2004 by the Cascade Land Conservancy and the City of Tukwila. It is now owned by the City of Tukwila and will be the future site of the Duwamish Riverbend Hill Park Preserve. The property will be managed as a public open-space devoted to the interpretation of the site’s Native American cultural significance and other aspects of Duwamish River Valley natural and cultural history. It will also be utilized as an outdoor classroom for environmental education.

About Cascade Land Conservancy, CLC
The Cascade Land Conservancy is a regional land trust and stewardship organization operating in Washington State with headquarters in Seattle and principal offices in King, Kittitas, Mason, Pierce and Snohomish Counties. The CLC was founded in 1989 and has conserved nearly 140,000 acres of working forests, farmlands and natural areas as well as estuary lands on the Olympic Peninsula and along the Washington Coast. Since 2005 it has been the host organization of The Cascade Agenda, which links conserving great lands with creating great communities. For more information please visit www.cascadeland.org and www.cascadeagenda.com

About ExOfficio
ExOfficio has been creating adventure clothing to explore the world in since 1987. Built on the success of the ultimate fly-fishing shirt, the company has evolved into a leading travel apparel brand known for its innovative technical features and performance benefits that enhance the travel experience. ExOfficio is sold internationally in specialty outdoor, fly-fishing, travel and luggage stores. Products are also sold in ExOfficio retail stores and online. ExOffico supports numerous social and environmental organizations to include World Concern, Medical Teams International, and the America Wildlife Foundation among others. For more information, visit www.exofficio.com.