PrimaLoft® and The Mountaineer Team Up to Support Keene Valley

ALBANY, New York — (Sept. 14, 2011) — PrimaLoft®, the world leader in performance insulations, and The Mountaineer, purveyors of fine mountaineering and outdoor equipment since 1975, make a call to action to partners in the outdoor industry and supporters to help the Adirondack community rebuild from the devastation of Hurricane Irene in Keene Valley, N.Y.

Tropical Storm Irene hit the hamlets Keene and Keene Valley in the Adirondack Mountains of upstate New York very hard, leaving millions of dollars of damage in its wake. Bridges, homes, roads and businesses were washed away in the swollen torrents and flash floods, but it did not wash away the mountain spirit of the residents who call this community home.

Since the storm hit, a massive volunteer effort has had people pumping out flooded basements, shoveling mud, washing merchandise and doing what they can to help their friends and neighbors recover. While Route 73 (the main route into Keene Valley) and some of the local trails in and around the area are starting to reopen, sweat equity, led by New York State Governor Cuomo along with The National Guard will, not be enough to help the Keene community rebuild. Knowing that, the Keene Community Trust, in partnership with the Adirondack Community Trust, established a fund to raise gifts to support those needs not met by insurance, FEMA or mops.

“Hurricane Irene has done more damage to our local communities than anything we have seen in our lifetime. As supporters of the outdoors, we need to come together and help our community with the efforts to rebuild,” said Eileen Berner, director of sales and marketing, PrimaLoft®. “Our team has committed to support local recovery efforts with not only a monetary donation, but also by sending a team of volunteers from our home office in Albany to assist The Mountaineer and the residents of Keene Valley as they work to clean up and rebuild their community.”

The Mountaineer, a long time partner of PrimaLoft®, is reaching out to the outdoor industry and individuals who travel from near and far to enjoy the Adirondack’s renowned hiking, biking, skiing and kayaking adventures, in an effort to spread the word. The store itself, which retails apparel and gear from over 500 manufacturing brands, mainly in the outdoor industry, is now open for business; however, The Mountaineer has suffered greatly not only from physical damage but from lack of business due to the closure of roads in the area.

“Anything offered will be appreciated. The community needs financial support to aid families who have lost their homes, but we also need supplies and manpower to help with clean up and rebuilding,” said Vinny McClelland, owner, The Mountaineer. “With the re-opening of Route 73, we also want supporters to know that the Mountaineer is open for business, and the Keene area needs visitors to continue to thrive. Fall is a beautiful time of year to visit the Adirondacks, and we’re doing our best to encourage tourism to assist with economic recovery.”

Contributions can be made to: ACT/Keene Flood Recovery Fund and mailed to: Adirondack Community Trust, c/o Melissa Eisinger PO Box 288, Lake Placid, NY. 12946 or online at: www.KeeneFloodRecoveryFund.org

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About PrimaLoft®:

PrimaLoft® is a registered trademark of Albany International Corp. PrimaLoft® insulation was originally developed for the US Army as a water-resistant synthetic alternative to down. Today, PrimaLoft® is regarded as a research and development leader in high performance insulations and yarns, which provide warmth and comfort from head to toe. Its family of products are manufactured in the US, Europe and Asia. The PrimaLoft® brand is recognized globally and is used in leading outdoor and fashion brands, home furnishings, work wear and military applications. For more information, please visit www.PrimaLoft.com.