SEATTLE, Nov. 12, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Eddie Bauer announces a partnership with actor and activist Ryan Reynolds to serve as the company's philanthropic ambassador for the next stage of its 20-year affiliation with American Forests. American Forests is the national nonprofit conservation organization dedicated to reforestation in threatened ecosystems. Together they will plant the organization's 50 millionth tree, celebrating a significant milestone in a partnership aimed at protecting and restoring North American forests.
In conjunction with American Forests, Eddie Bauer has helped plant more than 6.5 million trees to date. Reynolds will have the honor of planting this tree on behalf of Eddie Bauer in the San Bernardino Mountains, an area that has been particularly devastated by fire damage, bark beetles and drought. This area is one of American Forests' signature reforestation projects, and one in which Eddie Bauer has helped to plant more than 10,000 trees. To recognize the 20th anniversary of the partnership, Eddie Bauer has committed to planting 20,000 additional trees in the San Bernardino Mountains in 2016.
"For nearly 100 years, the Eddie Bauer brand has been inspiring and enabling people to have rich outdoor experiences. Eddie himself spent his entire life encouraging people to go outdoors, and reminding them to assume responsibility for preserving the beauty of nature. One of his favorite mantras was to 'always put back more than I took.' This has made our 20-year partnership with American Forests not just a natural fit, but one we are incredibly passionate about," states Mike Egeck, President and Chief Executive Officer of Eddie Bauer. "We are very proud to have helped plant over 6.5 million trees through American Forests, and we are grateful to have the support of Ryan Reynolds to further raise awareness about the dire need to help protect and restore our forests."
Actor Ryan Reynolds has long been an advocate for environmental education. He joins Eddie Bauer as philanthropic ambassador in support of the American Forests partnership to help raise awareness about the importance of protecting and restoring our forests.
"The outdoors have always been a big part of my life and I hope to help ensure that we preserve our forests for future generations, one tree at a time," said Reynolds. "It's extremely powerful to have an iconic outdoor brand like Eddie Bauer lead the way by partnering with American Forests to help save our trees. I am honored to take part in their work to help our forests thrive for all to enjoy."
Eddie Bauer and American Forests first partnered in 1995 through Eddie Bauer's "Add a Dollar, Plant a Tree" project, in which the brand plants a tree every time a customer chooses to add a dollar to his or her purchase. Eddie Bauer donates 100 percent of these funds collected from customer donations to American Forests' reforestation projects in the U.S. and Canada.
Eddie Bauer's 20-year partnership with American Forests is the most successful reforestation project by a retail business in the United States. More than 6.5 million trees have been planted in more than 150 unique ecosystems across the U.S. and Canada. The estimated worth of these trees is $110 million in improved air quality as a result of absorbing pollutants such as ozone and nitrogen oxides from the air; $16 million in sequestered carbon dioxide; and $20 million in improved water quality.
"A significant number of the trees American Forests has planted during the two decades are the result of our extraordinary partnership with Eddie Bauer," said Scott Steen, President and Chief Executive Officer of American Forests. "Our work together has made our water and air cleaner, slowed the effects of climate change, and expanded habitat for dozens of threatened and endangered species. Now, with Ryan Reynolds on board, we are confident the impact of this work will be even greater."
In just the past 25 years, American Forests has completed restoration work in all 50 U.S. states and in 45 countries around the world. It provides solutions to threats facing the world's forests and rebuilds forest ecosystems damaged by storms, drought, disease, development and fire. Through key partnerships, like with Eddie Bauer, American Forests involves organizations and individuals in tree-planting projects that restore essential ecosystems.
Ryan Reynolds will continue his close work with Eddie Bauer and American Forests to protect and restore forests with a comprehensive, action-oriented, and education-focused campaign in 2016. For more information, visit www.eddiebauer.com/campaign/AmericanForests.
About Eddie Bauer
Established in 1920 in Seattle, Eddie Bauer is a specialty retailer that sells sportswear, outerwear, footwear, gear and accessories for the active outdoor lifestyle. The Eddie Bauer brand is a nationally recognized brand that stands for high quality, innovation, style, and customer service. Eddie Bauer products are available at approximately 400 stores throughout the United States, Canada, Germany and Japan, through catalog sales, and online at www.eddiebauer.com.
About American Forests
American Forests restores and protects urban and rural forests. Founded in 1875, the first national nonprofit conservation organization in the country has served as a catalyst for many of the most important milestones in the conservation movement, including the founding of the U.S. Forest Service, the national forest and national park systems, and literally thousands of forest ecosystem restoration projects and public education efforts. In the past 25 years alone, American Forests has planted 50 million trees in more than a thousand forest restoration projects. These projects have restored hundreds of thousands of acres of wildlife habitat, protected vital water supplies, and planted trees that store millions of tons of greenhouse gases. Learn more at www.americanforests.org.
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