MEMPHIS, Tenn. (March 8, 2009) – The St. Mary’s County Ducks Unlimited chapter is one of the national organization’s top 100 fundraisers. The President’s Top 100 list is reserved for the 100 chapters who raise the most grassroots dollars for DU's habitat conservation work.
“DU volunteers have historically gone above and beyond and these chapters exemplify our grassroots system," said Bruce Lewis, president, Ducks Unlimited. “Volunteers within these chapters are this organization’s foundation and their passion for conservation is what fuels their hard work.”
The St. Mary’s County Chapter has earned a spot on the President’s Top 100 list out of the more than 3,500 DU Chapters nationwide. DU’s grassroots system has funded a portion of the more than 12 million acres DU has conserved since 1937.
“These chapters are showing that the future of waterfowl populations and wetlands that filter our drinking water are important to them and their communities,” Lewis 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 100 chapters for their achievement and look forward to seeing them among our elite chapters next year."
With more than a million supporters, Ducks Unlimited says they are the world's largest wetland and waterfowl conservation organization with more than 12 million acres conserved. The United States alone has lost more than half of its original wetlands - nature's most productive ecosystem - and continues to lose more than 80,000 wetland acres each year, according to a DU statement.