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Waterkeeper Alliance
Waterkeeper Alliance, the global environmental organization dedicated to clean water, announced the launch of its SPLASH Event Series, presented nationally by Toyota in partnership with national founding sponsor, KEEN. The SPLASH Series will take place on five waterways around the U.S., and each of the SPLASH events will raise funds to support Waterkeeper Alliance and its local Waterkeeper organizations by engaging local citizens and clean-water enthusiasts in water-based activities like swimming, paddling and boating. The first season of SPLASH events kicks off with the Hackensack River Paddle, scheduled for October 1stin Hackensack, New Jersey.
“Recreational use of our waterways is one of the most important benefits of our work to patrol and protect the world’s waterways from pollution,” said Marc Yaggi, Executive Director of Waterkeeper Alliance. “We are thankful to Toyota for presenting this national program and helping to ensure everyone’s right to swimmable, drinkable, fishable water, and to KEEN for helping develop this important series.”
Each of the events scheduled for the 2011-2012 SPLASH Series will be designed to suit the interests of the local community in which the event takes place and feature post-event festivities the whole community can enjoy. A broad range of water-based recreational activities—swimming, paddling, boating, and fishing—will be offered, and supporters are encouraged to participate either as individuals or in a team. SPLASH events will take place in several communities, including Charleston, SC, Santa Monica, CA, Miami, FL, and others.
“At Toyota, we have a longstanding commitment to improving communities where our customers and employees live and work,” said Pat Pineda, group vice president of philanthropy for Toyota Motor North America. “The SPLASH Event Series presents a tremendous way for communities to rally together to help protect and restore their local waterways. We couldn’t be more proud of our involvement with Waterkeeper Alliance and this program.”
KEEN Inc, manufacturer of outdoor footwear, socks and bags is also a partner in the SPLASH Series. “We’re thrilled to partner with Waterkeeper Alliance for the first season of the SPLASH Series,” said James Curleigh, CEO and president of KEEN Inc. and Waterkeeper Alliance Trustee. “Through each of these events, KEEN is able to support Waterkeeper Alliance’s mission while simultaneously enabling people to care for their environment, to get outside and play, and to find creative solutions to community environmental problems.”
On Oct. 1, the first SPLASH Series event of 2011 will take place in Hackensack, New Jersey. The Hackensack River Paddle, which will benefit the Hackensack Riverkeeper, will be a one-way, non-competitive four-mile paddle from River Barge Park in Carlstadt, to Laurel Hill County Park in Secaucus. Participants are invited to use their own boat, or rent one from the Hackensack Riverkeeper. Registration costs $10 for paddlers who supply their own boat, $25 per paddler for participants who rent a kayak, and $20 per paddler for participants who rent a canoe.
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