Tread Lightly! eBay Charity Auction
The problems associated with outdoor recreation in America have reached critical mass and we are at a pivotal crossroads. Closures look to be enormous beginning now – in 2008 and the two main reasons for loss of recreation access and opportunities are because of 1) damage caused by irresponsible (or un-informed) recreationists and 2) a tremendous lack of government resources to maintain roads, trails and recreation facilities (due to severe budget cuts, chronic backlog, and new regulations being implemented without proper funding).
Without proactive solutions, the markets associated with outdoor recreation are in jeopardy. Tread Lightly! is working quickly to grow its resources in order to put solutions like education, communications, and restoration for recreation programs on ground immediately – but we urgently need help from stakeholders in the outdoor recreation industry to accomplish our goals.
You can become involved through the first ever Tread Lightly! eBay Charity Auction. The auction was designed to provide excellent promotion of your product and your company while also raising money for a cause that is essential to the health of your industry.
The auction will be held June 2-10. For maximum promotion, companies should submit a donation form before February 28, 2008. Products can be shipped directly to Tread Lightly! headquarters anytime before May 1.
Tread Lightly! has been recognized by eBay and MissionFish as a certified 501 (c)(3) nonprofit. Therefore any and all traditional fees will be waived and 100% of the proceeds paid for your product will go directly to Tread Lightly!.
Promotions will include:
· Detailed descriptions and photos of each product with your logo and web link on Tread Lightly!’s website, which gets an average of 800+ unique visitors per day.
· Two emails listing your product and company will be sent to 6,000 Tread Lightly! members, friends, and contacts including manufacturers, dealers, retailers, clubs, corporations, and individuals.
· Promotion through several enthusiast magazines that have committed to announce the auction and its major donors, generating 50,000 to 1 million impressions.
· Inclusion in a targeted campaign pushing each product on at least 50 popular powersports, four wheel drive, hunting, geocaching, and hiking forums and blogs.
· Several other promotions including newsletter articles, e-newsletter articles, a press release, and detailed product descriptions on eBay, adding at least 10,000 more impressions.
· Your product donations can also work as cash to establish or increase your Tread Lightly! Official Partnership level, which carries its own set of valuable benefits.
Where the money raised will go:
To read more about the problems associated with outdoor recreation, go to Tread Lightly!’s executive director Lori McCullough’s recent op-ed piece. In order to prevent closures, Tread Lightly! is addressing the issues by providing unique solutions including:
· Education: Tread Lightly! is pushing its myriad of educational pieces, online resources, and training opportunities to educate as many recreationists as possible to tread lightly in the outdoors. This proactive approach can help protect thousands of miles of trails and campsites from potential damage and closure.
· Communication: Recreationists must be inspired, motivated and have their perceptions changed in order to affect their behavior. Tread Lightly! will be developing new public service campaigns as well as pushing existing successful campaigns to advance the good behavior and reputation of motorized recreation.
Tread Lightly! will also be working this year to secure funds to help the Forest Service provide maps, signage and information kiosks to effectively implement the Travel Management Rule and help recreationists find designated motorized trails and protect the environment.
· Restoration/Stewardship: Money raised will help Tread Lightly! manage and find funding for Restoration for Recreation – a program designed to help restore and enhance recreation sites across the country with the help of grassroots volunteers and corporate involvement.
To donate product to the Tread Lightly!’s Annual Charity Auction on eBay, download a Product Donation Form, or contact us at 1-800-966-9900 or treadlightly@treadlightly.org.
You can make a major difference this year for the environment, the recreation industry, and your bottom line!
