We are pleased to announce that Merrell has increased their commitment to The Conservation Alliance by becoming our newest Pinnacle Member. Pinnacle Members contribute at least $100,000 annually to the Alliance.
"Merrell's brand cause is about getting people outside," said Craig Throne, vice president of global marketing for Merrell. "To help drive that effort we make protecting our natural places a priority as they will inspire current and future generations to recreate in the outdoors. The Conservation Alliance is leading this effort and we are proud to extend our support to a Pinnacle level to help defend our natural outdoor playground."
Merrell first joined The Conservation Alliance in 2001, and has been a rock-solid member ever since. When we launched our Legacy Fund endowment campaign in 2008, Merrell dove right in, committing $500,000 toward our $3.5-million goal. With the Pinnacle commitment, Merrell again demonstrates its unflinching dedication to protecting North America's wild places.
"We are thrilled that Merrell has stepped up to the Pinnacle Member level," said John Sterling, executive director of The Conservation Alliance. "Merrell is a leader in our industry, and with this commitment, they demonstrate an above-and-beyond commitment to protecting the wild places so important to outdoor consumers."
The Conservation Alliance launched the Pinnacle member level in August 2010. With the addition of Merrell, we now have six Pinnacle members: Merrell; Patagonia; The North Face; REI; Eastern Mountain Sports; and KEEN, Inc. Their commitments will ensure that we contribute more than $1 million to conservation organizations for the first time in 2011.
Huge thanks to Merrell, and to ALL the companies that make The Conservation Alliance such a critical piece of the outdoor industry's commitment to land and water conservation.