Ducks Unlimited recently announced the top volunteer chapters across the nation honored in four categories: Chairman’s Elite, Chairman’s Roll of Honor, President’s Elite and President’s Roll of Honor. The Chairman’s Elite designation is reserved for the chapters that raise at least $1 million in grassroots income for DU’s conservation mission. Chapters that raised between $250,000 and $999,999 were recognized in the Chairman’s Roll of Honor category, while those that raised between $100,000 and $249,999 were named as President’s Elite chapters. Rounding out the four categories, President’s Roll of Honor chapters raised between $65,000 and $99,999.
“These fundraising events are the backbone of DU’s habitat conservation efforts, and the volunteers who make up these chapters are the force making a difference for North American waterfowl populations,” said DU President Paul Bonderson. “It takes a great deal of effort to achieve these levels, and these chapters deserve to be congratulated by every person who enjoys the outdoors.”
The chapters honored this year earned their spots on the nationally recognized lists out of more than 2,600 DU chapters nationwide that hosted more than 3,900 fundraising events. DU’s event fundraising system has become a model for other conservation organizations worldwide and has helped conserve more than 13 million acres of waterfowl habitat since 1937.
The top chapters of 2015 also have the distinction of being honored during DU’s upcoming 79th National Convention in Anchorage, Alaska, June 1-5, with many chapter representatives in attendance.
“DU chapters across the country are showing that the future of waterfowl populations and the wetlands that filter our water and protect us from flooding are important to them and to their communities,” Bonderson said. “The more money we raise, the more habitat we can conserve and the closer we are to preserving our waterfowl hunting heritage. I would like to personally thank all our top chapters for their achievement and look forward to seeing them among our distinguished chapters again next year.”
Ducks Unlimited Inc. is the world’s largest nonprofit organization dedicated to conserving North America’s continually disappearing waterfowl habitats. Established in 1937, Ducks Unlimited has conserved more than 13.6 million acres thanks to contributions from more than a million supporters across the continent. Guided by science and dedicated to program efficiency, DU works toward the vision of wetlands sufficient to fill the skies with waterfowl today, tomorrow and forever. For more information on our work, visit www.ducks.org.