SC Johnson Assists National Wildlife Refuge Association With the Gulf Oil Disaster

Grant Funds Public Awareness Campaign, Wildlife and Habitat 'Safety Net'

WASHINGTON, June 30 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The National Wildlife Refuge Association (NWRA) is pleased to announce that SC Johnson has awarded a grant to assist NWRA in responding to the wildlife and habitat impacts of the Deepwater Horizon oil-rig blowout in the Gulf of Mexico. SC Johnson will partner with NWRA to generate public awareness about the wildlife and national wildlife refuges affected by the Gulf disaster, and will support NWRA's efforts to pursue a "natural safety net" for wildlife species and habitats harmed by the still-unfolding environmental disaster.

"While much of the response to the Gulf oil disaster has understandably centered on providing help to the families and communities whose livelihoods are being devastated by the spill, it's imperative that we also focus on the long-term impacts to wildlife and their habitats," said Evan Hirsche, President of the Refuge Association. "More than 30 of our national wildlife refuges and the hundreds of wildlife species they protect are in imminent danger from the oil spill. We are grateful for SC Johnson's support in helping us ensure that strategies are in place to secure the conservation of manatees, sea turtles, brown pelicans, whales, migratory birds, bluefin tuna, and other impacted species into the future."

"For decades, SC Johnson has been committed to preserving and protecting our environment," said Kelly M. Semrau, Vice President – Global Public Affairs and Communication at SC Johnson. "We are glad to partner with NWRA in cleaning and protecting our Gulf coast culture now and for future generations."

The gushing leak in the Gulf of Mexico has polluted the water with more than one hundred million gallons of oil, jeopardizing the Gulf's marine ecosystem and the rich diversity of life it supports. Along the Gulf coast, tens of thousands of nesting pelicans, herons, egrets, and shorebirds are in harm's way from oil washing up on their nesting grounds. The endangered Kemp's Ridley sea turtle, one of four species of sea turtles that depend on Gulf waters and beaches for survival, could be lost forever. The endangered West Indian manatee, whose population declined sharply during the extremely cold winter of 2009-10, is in danger from oil and toxic chemical dispersants. Oil already has washed up on several refuges, including Delta and Breton National Wildlife Refuges (NWR) in Louisiana, Grand Bay NWR in Mississippi, and Bon Secour NWR in Alabama. With no end to the disaster in sight, wildlife populations could be decimated.

SC Johnson's support will facilitate NWRA's media outreach work; support NWRA's efforts to engage volunteers in the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's spill response; and assist NWRA as it leads a diverse coalition of organizations to create a "natural safety net" to secure the well-being of harmed species into the future.

About NWRA

The mission of the National Wildlife Refuge Association is to conserve America's wildlife heritage for future generations through strategic programs that protect, enhance, and expand the National Wildlife Refuge System and the landscapes beyond its boundaries that secure its ecological integrity. NWRA works across the U.S. to conserve the most biologically sensitive landscapes, enlisting the support of local citizens and diverse state and federal partners. In addition, NWRA provides training and guidance to more than 250 local refuge "Friends" volunteer groups that are vital to creating public support for national wildlife refuges and wildlife conservation. www.refugeassociation.org

About SC Johnson

SC Johnson is a family-owned and managed business dedicated to innovative, high-quality products, excellence in the workplace and a long-term commitment to the environment and the communities in which it operates. Based in the USA, the company is one of the world's leading manufacturers of household cleaning products and products for home storage, air care, and insect control. It markets such well-known brands as GLADE®, OFF!®, PLEDGE®, RAID®, SCRUBBING BUBBLES®, SHOUT®, WINDEX® and ZIPLOC® in the U.S. and beyond, with brands marketed outside the U.S. including AUTAN®, BAYGON®, BRISE®, ECHO®, KABIKILLER®, KLEAR®, and MR. MUSCLE®. The 124-year-old company, with more than $8 billion in sales, employs approximately 12,000 people globally and sells products in virtually every country around the world. www.scjohnson.com

MEDIA CONTACTS: Desiree Sorenson-Groves, Vice President, NWRA, (202) 290-5593

Jenny Taylor, Director, Global Public Affairs, SC Johnson, (262) 260-2440

SOURCE National Wildlife Refuge Association