The Conservation Alliance raised $10,500 in under two hours at a fundraising event organized by Keen Footwear at the recent Outdoor Retailer Summer Market in Salt Lake City. The funds will support The Conservation Alliances efforts to protect wild places for their habitat and recreational values.
Keen gave a pair of its Venice H2 sandals to anyone who donated $35 to the Alliance. Donors who gave $50 also received a Kelty All-Tote bag. Patagonia also participated in the event. The first six people who donated another $50 walked away with a Patagonia R2 Vest.
A throng of several hundred people surrounded the Keen Footwear booth to make their donations and claim their shoes, bags and vests.
“Our members continue to step up to support The Conservation Alliance beyond simply paying their membership dues,” said John Sterling, Executive Director of the Alliance. “Their generous donations of product will help us protect the wild places that are important to outdoor industry customers.”
The event marked the third time Keen Footwear has offered product to Conservation Alliance donors. In three events starting in August, 2005, Keen has helped raise more than $30,000 for the Alliance.
“We are thrilled that the response to the event was so positive,” said Bobbie Parisi, VP of Marketing for KEEN. “Were excited to be a part of The Conservation Alliances great work to save North Americas wild places.”
The trade show event was part of a larger partnership between Keen Footwear and The Conservation Alliance. Earlier this year, Keen announced that it would match the first years dues of any company that joins the Conservation Alliance, up to $140,000. The booth event also served to recognize the 26 companies who have joined the Alliance since that Keen offered that challenge.
“Our partnership with Keen has strengthened The Conservation Alliance in so many ways. As a result of the partnership, we have more members, a higher profile within the industry, and most important, we have more funding available to support conservation organizations,” said Sterling.
“This greater capacity has already contributed to conservation victories in Utah, Colorado, and British Columbia,” he continued. “We look forward working with our member companies to save more special places throughout North America.”
