Sarah MacGillivray
On Wednesday, REI Co-op leadership partnered with The Mountaineers to celebrate the 25th anniversary of REI's Seattle Flagship store and support conservation and advocacy efforts led by The Mountaineers. Attendees gathered on the outdoor terrace to enjoy handmade tamales from Frelard Tamales, freshly baked cookies from Bell’s Cookie Co., and local beer and wine from Georgetown Brewery and Tinte Cellars. After nearly two years of virtual-only connections, it felt great to finally gather in-person in support of our wild places. Thank you to those who came out and joined the celebrations!
After a welcome from Mountaineers Board Member and REI Seattle Flagship store General Manager Kara Stone, attendees heard from REI Co-op President and CEO Eric Artz and Executive Vice President Ben Steele about the deep relationship between REI and The Mountaineers. In between conversations about how both organizations are creating positive change in the conservation and advocacy landscape, guests were entertained with music from local artist Kurt Lindsay.
Thanks to support from the REI Seattle Flagship store, 100% of ticket sale proceeds from the 25th Anniversary event directly benefits The Mountaineers conservation and advocacy program. This program relies on the continued philanthropic investment of the outdoor community to stay on the leading edge of this work. In total, attendees raised $4,000 to help protect wild places. Thank you.
“Be bold. Be courageous. Be inclusive. Let’s continue to work together to solve some of the biggest challenges we face: getting kids outside, equitable access to the outdoors, protecting public lands, and clean air.” - REI President and CEO Eric Artz
left to right: Eric Artz, Ben Steele, and Kara Stone.
Missed the event? Don’t worry! The Mountaineers will have some exciting conservation and advocacy announcements to share in the near future. In the meantime, you can check out our website for other ways you can positively impact the outdoor experience in the Pacific Northwest, including telling congress to invest in climate and public lands. If you would still like to make a gift and support the work led by The Mountaineers, it’s not too late. Please visit the Conservation and Advocacy Fund donation page and make your gift today.
Thank you for standing with REI and The Mountaineers in support of our public lands and waters. Until next time!
If you’d like to add your name to the list of supporters to elevate our region’s conservation and advocacy leadership through the work of The Mountaineers, please visit this Conservation and Advocacy Fund donation page to make your gift today. Don’t forget to opt in to the monthly Conservation Currents newsletter through your Mountaineers membership profile. Reach out to development@mountaineers.org with any questions.
