The Conservation Alliance “Ads for the Earth” benefit auction raised $205,210.40, all of which will go into the group’s fund to support organizations working to protect wild places throughout North America.
The online auction consisted of ad space donated by Backpacker, Climbing, Canoe & Kayak, GearTrends, National Geographic Adventure, Outdoor Business, Outside, and Sierra magazines. Each publication donated one full-page and one 1/3-page ad, and the Alliance auctioned that ad space to member companies. The fundraising goal for the auction was $200,000.
“We are just thrilled that the auction went so well,” said John Sterling, Conservation Alliance Executive Director. “Adding more than $200,000 to our grant fund will allow us to support at least six additional organizations in 2007.”
Based on the results, The Conservation Alliance plans to make the auction an annual event.
“The outsized results that Conservation Alliance grant recipients have achieved over the years inspire everyone in the outdoor community,” said Fran Farrell, Publisher of National Geographic Adventure. “I think the publishers that donated ad space and the bidders who drove the auction felt fortunate to have an organization like the Conservation Alliance to rally around. We owe a lot to the visionary people who started the Alliance.”
Twelve companies participated in the bidding including: American Alpine Institute; Backpacker’s Pantry; Chaco; Fendler Communications; KEEN; Patagonia; Teva; The North Face; and Timberland.
“We’re pleased that both large and small companies participated in the auction,” said Sterling. “We worked hard to ensure that there were ad pages everyone could afford.”
The Conservation Alliance acknowledges the following people and publications for donating ad space:
Fran Farrell, National Geographic Adventure
Scott Parmelee, Outside
Charina Lumley, Backpacker
Jeff Paro, Climbing, Canoe & Kayak
Michael Hodgson, GearTrends
Sam Wender, Outdoor Business
Kristi Rummel, Sierra