The Conservation Alliance Backyard Collective Hosts Successful Event in Seattle

Bend, Ore. (July 28, 2014) — The Conservation Alliance held its third Backyard Collective event of 2014 on Friday, July 18, in Seattle, Wash. The Conservation Alliance and its Seattle area member companies teamed up with Forterra to organize a day of trail work and restoration in beautiful Discovery Park.

More than 100 volunteers representing Conservation Alliance member companies, including: Brooks, Eddie Bauer, Filson, Nikwax, Patagonia, Perpetual Motion NW, REI, Stanley, and The North Face. Conservation Alliance grantees, including American Rivers, American Whitewater, Save Our Wild Salmon, The Wilderness Society, and Washington Wild took part in a lunchtime volunteer fair along with other local organizations Puget Soundkeeper Alliance and Washington Trails Association.

“The Conservation Alliance member companies are consistently some of the most productive volunteers we work with all year, and we always look forward to this event,” said Andrea Mojzak, Forterra’s Green Cities Project Manager. “This year the volunteers removed over 5,000 square feet of thick blackberry, spread burlap and mulch over 3,300 square feet, decommissioned 100 feet of trail, created over 30 feet of new trail, and replaced rotting steps. The volunteers accomplished all of this of this with big smiles and most importantly, having fun. A big thanks to all of the volunteers from Green Seattle Partnership, Seattle Parks, and Forterra.” 

“Stanley is always so excited to be a part of The Conservation Alliance Backyard Collective event. Being a part of this group of volunteers helping our local nonprofit organizations in this way is extremely satisfying,” said Nancy Staltman, Director of Consumer marketing at Stanley. “Where else do you see competing brands and retailers work collectively like this? Thank you to the Conservation Alliance for making this happen year after year.”

Following the stewardship activities, volunteers returned for a catered lunch and the volunteer fair.

“As the owner of Conservation Alliance member Perpetual Motion NW, representing member companies Black Diamond, Gregory, Farm to Feet and Ibex, it was an honor to participate in the Seattle Backyard Collective last week,” said David Egan. “We had a productive day at Discovery Park, and it was a great opportunity for my staff and me to give back to the local community, and to work alongside other Conservation Alliance member companies. Our collective efforts are an investment not only in the outdoor places where we play, but also in the sustainability of our industry.”

The Conservation Alliance is a group of outdoor industry companies that fund conservation organizations. The Alliance launched the Backyard Collective Program in 2008 to connect individuals in the outdoor industry with the work of organizations that receive financial support from the group. The Backyard Collective moves that action to the field, and gives people a venue to get their “hands dirty” for the sake of conservation.

“As first time attendees, Eddie Bauer was thrilled to be working alongside our peers in the Seattle outdoor community,” said Damien Huang, Senior Vice President of Design and Merchandising for Eddie Bauer. “The Conservation Alliance Backyard Collective event series reinforces everything positive about the outdoor industry and our commitment to maintaining open spaces for people to enjoy.”

The Conservation Alliance plans to organize additional Backyard Collectives this year in Bend, Portland, and Boulder, Colo. For more information about this event, please contact events coordinator, Brook Hopper brook@conservationalliance.com, or 805-340-5034.

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 $13 million to grassroots conservation groups throughout North America. The results of our funding have been remarkable. Alliance funding has helped save more than 42 million acres of wildlands; protect 2,825 miles of rivers; stop or remove 26 dams; designate five marine reserves; and purchase nine climbing areas.

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

Media Contact:
Verde Brand Communications
Julie Evans
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Julie@verdepr.com