Filson, a leading outfitter for hunting, fishing and outdoor enthusiasts, has committed $25,000 to The Conservation Alliance Legacy Fund, which the company will raise through proceeds from its annual "Seconds Sale," held at the company's Seattle distribution center. With Filson's gift, The Conservation Alliance has raised nearly $2.7 million in contributions and commitments. That total includes $800,000 raised after the campaign was announced at the January Outdoor Retailer Winter Market.
"We have seen the outstanding results of The Conservation Alliance's work to protect and preserve natural wildlife habitats in every corner of our country and are indebted to them for their relentless commitment," said Filson CEO Bill Kulczycki. "Given that Filson's over 100-year heritage is rooted in the outdoors, we see it as one of our primary responsibilities to also serve as stewards for a healthy environment."
The Conservation Alliance Legacy Fund is an endowment that, once fully funded, will provide a permanent source of operational funding for the organization. The Alliance launched the campaign in January with $1.9 million in initial commitments from The North Face, REI, Merrell, Dansko, Patagonia, CamelBak, and former board president Menno van Wyk.
Since January, additional commitments have come in from Eastern Mountain Sports ($500,000), Tom and Sonya Campion ($100,000), Black Diamond Equipment, Ltd. ($50,000), Waypoint Outdoor ($10,000), The Forest Group ($5,000), Kirk Richardson ($5,000), and the Gracie Charitable Foundation ($25,500).
"We are honored to have Filson's support for the Legacy Fund," said John Sterling, Executive Director of The Conservation Alliance. "Conservation first took root in the U.S. because hunters and anglers recognized that healthy habitat meant healthy fish and game populations. With this gift, Filson is carrying on that tradition of protecting wild lands and rivers where fish and wildlife thrive."
The Conservation Alliance will continue to meet with member companies to solicit contributions to the Legacy Fund. At the same time, the Alliance encourages individuals in the outdoor industry to make gifts.
"With roughly $800,000 to go toward reaching our goal, we plan to pull out all the stops," said Sterling. "The Conservation Alliance is a community of companies and individuals, and we want everyone to play a role in ensuring our future."