FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 12, 2011
Contact: Maggie Kao, 202-675-2384
Sierra Club Joins First Lady Michelle Obama in Supporting Military Families Through New Outdoors Initiative
Sierra Club Foundation announces $1 million in grants in support of military families
Washington, DC – Today the Sierra Club joined First Lady Michelle Obama and Dr. Jill Biden to announce a new initiative to support and honor military families through the exploration and enjoyment of America's outdoors.
Sierra Club Executive Director Michael Brune released the following statement:
“The Sierra Club is proud to join First Lady Michelle Obama and Dr. Jill Biden in an exciting new initiative to honor our nation's military families through the exploration and enjoyment of the great outdoors.
“At a time when our men and women in uniform face unprecedented hardship, we are honored to be able to lend a hand by giving military families the chance to find solace, peace and support in nature.
“As a first step in this new partnership, The Sierra Club Foundation is proud to announce major grants to YMCA of the USA and the National Military Family Association. The funding will allow thousands of military children and families to experience the healing powers of nature by attending camp.
"Since its creation in 2007, the Sierra Club’s national initiative has brought more than 40,000 service members, veterans and their children to America’s great outdoors, helping to improve their health and well-being, restore their spirits and bring families together after deployment.”
# # #
About the Sierra Club
Since 1892, the Sierra Club has been working to protect communities, wild places, and the planet itself. With 1.4 million members and supporters, it is the largest and most influential grassroots environmental organization in the United States, and was founded by America's most famous and influential naturalist and conservationist, John Muir. Sierra Club is working to connect military children and families with the healing powers of our natural heritage through its Military Families Outdoors initiative.www.sierraclub.org and www.sierraclub.org/military
About the Sierra Club Foundation
The mission of The Sierra Club Foundation is to help educate, inspire and empower humanity to preserve the natural and human environment. As a public charity, The Sierra Club Foundation relies on the generosity of thousands of individuals and foundations nationwide to help us achieve our mission. The Foundation provides critical resources to the Sierra Club and other nonprofit organizations for charitable programs that protect and restore the environment.