NEWS RELEASE, Nov. 18, 2004
Roy and Mary Win Volunteer Award
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REI DONATES $20,000 TO ADVENTURE CYCLING ASSOCIATION
MISSOULA, Mont. -- Recreational Equipment, Inc. (REI) announced the recipients of the annual REI Stewards for the Environment
awards. Making the list of outstanding environmental volunteers is Roy Weil and Mary Shaw of Pittsburgh, PA, who are members of
Missoula-based Adventure Cycling Association. Weil and Shaw will be awarded with a $500 REI gift card, and a $20,000 check will be
presented to the Adventure Cycling Association at an awards ceremony scheduled along with the Adventure Cycling Association Open House
on November 18th at 3:45pm at the association's headquarters at 150 E. Pine St. in Missoula.
A husband and Wife team, Roy and Mary have been members of the Adventure Cycling Association for 28 years. They share their love of
cycling and the natural beauty of their western Pennsylvania home by co-authoring guidebooks to the region with all proceeds from the
sales of the books being donated to trail organizations.
Since 1996, Mary and Roy have also been active volunteers and visionaries for the Allegheny Trail Alliance, a coalition of seven trail
groups building a system encompassing 150-200 miles of trails between Cumberland, Md., and Pittsburgh.
Other winners of the REI Stewards for the Environment awards include Steve Austin, of Northglenn, CO., a volunteer with Volunteers for
Outdoor Colorado; Chris Gray, of Buford, GA., a volunteer with the Georgia Wildlife Foundation's Mill Creek Nature Center; Miki Hidaka,
of San Diego, a volunteer with Outdoor Outreach; Chris Hoff, of Minneapolis, a volunteer with the Boundary Waters Wilderness Foundation;
and Eileen Hyatt of Spokane, a devoted volunteer with Bicycle Alliance of Washington. Complete profiles of each winner are available by
visiting www.rei.com and clicking on Stewards Awards under "About REI."
The awards program was initiated by REI in 2003 as part of its ongoing commitment to advancing environmental stewardship and to honor
the individual volunteer efforts of those who have given generously of their time, energy and skills to ensure that the outdoors are
accessible by all and protected for future generations.
REI retail store employees across the country nominated local non-profit organizations which have demonstrated exceptional work in the
area of environmental stewardship; the organizations in turn were each asked to nominate one volunteer. Nominees were evaluated on the
overall impact of the volunteer efforts, personal volunteer time investment, creative approach to individual efforts and success in
engaging others in the cause.
"The patronage of our members and other customers allows REI to support the efforts of volunteer groups dedicated to protecting outdoor
places," added REI President and CEO Dennis Madsen. "It's our hope that recognizing the contributions of these amazing outdoor stewards
will inspire others to become involved."
Adventure Cycling, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit established in 1973, is America's largest recreational cycling association, with over 41,000
members. Headquartered in Missoula, Montana, the association's mission is to inspire people of all ages to travel by bicycle and to help
cyclists explore the landscapes and history of America for fitness, fun, and self-discovery. Adventure Cycling's services include
bicycle-route development and mapping, periodical publishing (Adventure Cyclist magazine and The Cyclists' Yellow Pages resource
directory), and one of the top guided bicycle-touring programs in the U.S. For more information about Adventure Cycling, call
800-755-BIKE (2453), email info@adventurecycling.org, or visit www.adventurecycling.org.
REI is an outdoor retail co-op dedicated to inspiring, educating and outfitting its more than 2 million active members and the community
for a lifetime of outdoor adventures. Founded in 1938 by a group of Pacific Northwest mountaineers seeking quality equipment, REI
operates retail stores nationwide, two online stores - REI.com and REI-OUTLET.com - and an adventure travel company, REI Adventures. REI
offers products from all of the top brands for camping, climbing, cycling, hiking, outdoor fitness, paddling, snow sports and travel,
including its own line of award-winning gear and apparel. While anyone may join or shop at REI, members pay a one-time $15 fee and
receive a share in the company's profits through an annual member refund based on their purchases. As an active supporter of the
communities in which it does business, REI is committed to promoting environmental stewardship and increasing access to outdoor
recreation through education, volunteerism, gear donations and financial contributions.
NOTE: An individual digital photo of Weir and Shaw in an outdoor setting is available upon request.
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