Keen Helps Conservation Alliance Recruit 24 New Members

The Conservation Alliance has recruited 24 new member companies in the last 12 months, meeting a challenge from Keen Footwear to raise $120,000 in new member dues in one year. Keen offered to match the first year's dues of any company that joined the Conservation Alliance over the past year. Those dues and Keen's match have gone directly into The Conservation Alliance's grant fund to support conservation organizations working to protect wild places throughout North America.

“We were on the verge of joining, and the Keen offer put us over the top,” said Jeff Wogoman, Director of Marketing for Cloudveil, whose $10,000 contribution to the Alliance leveraged an additional $20,000 from Keen.

The Conservation Alliance used Keen's challenge throughout the year to help convince companies to join the Alliance. Entering the Outdoor Retailer Winter Market in January, the Alliance was still $20,000 shy of the goal. At the show, Keen offered to triple the first year’s dues of any company that joined during the show. That was an offer Cloudveil could not refuse. The Conservation Alliance has budgeted to contribute $500,000 in 2006, a 38% increase in two years. The Alliance credits much of that growth to Keen's leadership.

In addition to Cloudveil, Keen matched the first year's membership dues of the following companies: Ailin, LLC; Babbitt's Backcountry Outfitters; Black Diamond Equipment; Boulder Incentives; Broudy Donohue Photography; Cloudveil; Dong-In Entech; Ex Officio; Horny Toad Activewear; Howa Design; Kristin Carpenter Public Relations; Mercury Advertising; MoonFoto; Mountain Equipment Co-op; Nikwax; Osprey Packs; Outdoor Industry Association; Outdoor Research; Retailers of the Outdoor Industry; Sanitas Sales Group; Teko Socks; Tibetan Trader; Vasque; and Yakima.

Keen Helps Conservation Alliance Recruit 24 New Members

The Conservation Alliance has recruited 24 new member companies since February, 2005, meeting a challenge from Keen Footwear to raise $120,000 in new member dues in one year. Keen offered to match the first year's dues of any company that joined the Conservation Alliance over the past year. Those dues and Keen's match have gone directly
into The Conservation Alliance's grant fund to support conservation organizations working to protect wild places throughout North America.

“Keen Footwear offered us a steep challenge, and we met it,” said John
Sterling, Conservation Alliance Executive Director. “We are ecstatic about
the growth of the Alliance. Our members are showing that the outdoor
industry understands the importance of protecting the wild places where
customers recreate, and wildlife thrives.”

The Conservation Alliance used Keen's challenge throughout the year to help
convince companies to join the Alliance. Entering the Outdoor Retailer
Winter Market in January, the Alliance was still $20,000 shy of the goal. At
the show, Keen offered to triple the first year¹s dues of any company that
joined during the show. That was an offer Cloudveil could not refuse.

“We were on the verge of joining, and the Keen offer put us over the top,”
said Jeff Wogoman, Director of Marketing for Cloudveil, whose $10,000
contribution to the Alliance leveraged an additional $20,000 from Keen.

“The Conservation Alliance gives us the opportunity to support a range of
effective conservation groups at a level that we could not do on our own,”
Wogoman said. “By adding our annual dues to those of our peers in the
industry, we are showing that there is strength in numbers.”

The Conservation Alliance has budgeted to contribute $500,000 in 2006, a 38
percent increase in two years. The Alliance credits much of that growth to
Keen's leadership.

“Keen Footwear challenged our industry to make a stronger commitment to
conservation, and the industry has responded.” Sterling said. “Our shared
environment has never been more threatened, and outdoor companies are
standing up for our wild places.”

Bobbie Parisi, Keen's VP of Marketing concurred: “Keen is committed to
balancing great product with a commitment to conservation. We're thrilled
that The Conservation Alliance has met the challenge we put forth. In the
end, we all benefit when a group like the Alliance brings our industry
together for a great cause.”

In addition to Cloudveil, Keen matched the first year's membership dues of
the following companies: Ailin, LLC; Babbitt's Backcountry Outfitters; Black
Diamond Equipment; Boulder Incentives; Broudy Donohue Photography;
Cloudveil; Dong-In Entech; Ex Officio; Horny Toad Activewear; Howa Design;
Kristin Carpenter Public Relations; Mercury Advertising; MoonFoto; Mountain
Equipment Co-op; Nikwax; Osprey Packs; Outdoor Industry Association; Outdoor
Research; Retailers of the Outdoor Industry; Sanitas Sales Group; Teko
Socks; Tibetan Trader; Vasque; and Yakima.

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