In an extension of the well-known Patagonia grants program that has given over $31 million to grassroots environmental organizations since 1985, the new Patagonia store in Austin is sponsoring a 'Land, Air & Water' silent auction and concert from 4 to 8 pm on Friday, January 30, to benefit three Austin-area environmental groups. The event will take place at the store at 316 North Congress with entertainment by local band Austin Homegrown. Admission is free.
In a statement, Patagonia said eventgoers will have the opportunity to bid on items ranging from everyday gear like tote bags and water bottles to a surfboard donated by Wake Shop at South Austin Marine, a Patagonia wetsuit, Osprey technical backpacks and a Tandem Sky Dive package from Skydive San Marcos. All proceeds from the silent auction will go directly to the Green Corn Project, which promotes organic gardening as an affordable food solution for Austin's underserved communities; Environment Texas, an advocacy group working to protect the state's air, water and open spaces; and the Colorado River Foundation, which runs cleanups and various other programs on behalf of the Colorado River.
Representatives from all three non-profit organizations will be on site to talk about their work, with radio stations KGSR and KROX broadcasting live from the store during the event.
In addition, Patagonia is sponsoring an In-Service Day for all three groups on Saturday, February 7. Local residents can sign up in advance at the Patagonia store to volunteer for any of the three organizations. Goody bags will be given to the first 50 registrants. Patagonia employees will also be participating in the volunteer activities.
“Patagonia has a long history of environmental activism that includes earmarking 1% of sales for grants to grassroots organizations working to protect habitat or otherwise defend the planet. This Land, Air & Water event is another way for us to support environmental causes at the local level,” said store manager Jim Hansel. “By both raising money for local groups and recruiting volunteers to advance their agendas, we are advancing our own goal of becoming an advocate for the environment in and around Austin.”
Both the grant program and the Austin event are part of Patagonia's mission to “build the best product, cause no unnecessary harm, and use business to inspire and implement solutions to the environmental crisis.” The company also works to protect the environment by using only 100% organic cotton in its cotton apparel, using post-consumer recycled plastic soda bottles to manufacture its fleece products, and accepting worn-out fleece, organic cotton t-shirts and Capilene (long underwear) products for recyling into new fibers to save energy and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
