Mion Announces 2006 Mion Solutions Environmental Film Award Winners

Mion Footwear is pleased to announce the winners of its first annual Mion Solutions environmental film awards. The first place prize of $5,000 was awarded to filmmaker Matthew Krause for his film “Farming for the Future.” The winning film followed small-scale farmers in Southeast Ohio who produce food without chemicals or significant mechanical input. Krause designated the non-profit Ohio Ecological Food & Farm Association (www.oeffa.org) as his organization of choice to receive the additional $5,000 donation awarded as part of the first place prize.

Mion awarded the $3,000 second place prize to filmmaker Douglass Williamson for his film “Not a Distant Beast.” An additional $3,000 was donated to Williamson’s designated non-profit organization, the U.S. Chapter of the IUCN—the World Conservation Union, which distributes funds to the Water for Schools Campaign in El Salvador. The Water for Schools Campaign aims to bring together a network of organizations and partners that deliver safe water and sanitation to schools and assist in bringing basic water and hygiene education to teachers.

The third place prize of $2,000 was awarded to Tom Dusenbery for his film “ The New Environmentalists: China.” Dusenbery selected The Sierra Club as his non-profit to receive the additional $2,000 donation. This Sierra Club will use the monies to fund an ongoing project that is cleaning up streams in Middletown, Ohio, which were heavily polluted as a result of a local manufacturing company.

Launched at Outdoor Retailer Winter Market 2006, Mion Solutions recognizes films that inspire environmental activism and stewardship at a local or regional level. Through Mion Solutions, Mion Footwear recognizes three outstanding environmental “short-films” each year.

Mion launched Mion Solutions to use the power and artistry of film to recognize, celebrate and support the efforts of individuals and grassroots organizations who through vision and personal conviction have been able to positively affect their local environment.

Entries will open on February 1 for the 2007 Mion Solutions film awards on www.withoutabox.com. For information, please contact the Mion marketing team at 866.784.6466.

Since its debut at OR Summer Market 2005, Mion has explored new ways to become better stewards of the earth’s limited resources. Mionâ„¢ footwear is committed to 100% renewable energy, its U.S. distribution center it uses gets 60% of its power from on-site solar panels, the performance footwear brand uses recycled materials in the production of all of its marketing materials, and Mion has created and launched an Ecometrics label designed to provide visibility into the environmental impact of its products.

Mion is a division of The Timberland Company.

For additional information on Mion Solutions, visit mionfootwear.com. For media inquiries, please contact KCPR at 970.259.3555.

MION FOOTWEAR IS COMMITTED TO 100% RENEWABLE ENERGY