Orvis CEO Signs Open Letter Urging FL Lawmakers to Save the Everglades
Perk Perkins is Joined by 27 Other Outdoor Brands to Urge Support for Legislation to Build Everglades Agricultural Area (EAA) Reservoir
March 12, 2017 /3BL Media/ - Global outdoor and adventure retailer The Orvis Company has purchased a full-page ad in the Sunday edition of the Miami Herald to publish an open letter from Orvis CEO Perk Perkins, urging Governor Rick Scott and the Florida State Legislature to support legislation to build the Everglades Agricultural Area (EAA) Reservoir.
“The Everglades ecosystem supports 1.3 million jobs and represents $109 billion dollars to Florida’s economy,” writes Perkins. “But that ecosystem is collapsing and Florida must act now to save it. History will be made here, one way or the other.”
Orvis is working in close partnership with the Everglades Foundation (EF) to achieve a long-term solution to the diversion of freshwater overflows from Lake Okeechobee. These overflows lead to massive toxic algae blooms in the St. Lucie and Caloosahatchee estuaries, and devastating drought in the Everglades. Building the EAA Reservoir would help redistribute Lake Okeechobee overflows south, stopping the algae blooms and restoring the natural flow of clean freshwater into the Everglades, thereby healing and preserving the ailing ecosystem.
Annually, The Orvis Company commits 5% of its pre-tax profits to conservation. Said Perkins, “This year we are focused on total devotion to the Now or Neverglades Campaign. Our customers have the wealth, power, and influence to accomplish far beyond what we as a company could ever do, and our goal is to inspire and focus them on this campaign.” To date, Orvis has shared this message through more than 6.5 million pieces of direct mail and countless social media impressions. Media outreach will be ongoing.
On March 14 and 15, Perkins, along with CEOs from other outdoor businesses and organizations, will speak with Florida lawmakers at the state capital building in Tallahassee as part of CEOs for the Glades, an event hosted by the Everglades Foundation. Perkins, who was the first Executive to sign on for the event, will serve as spokesperson.
To read the letter in its entirety please visit http://www.orvis.com/s/everglades-foundation/14510?dir_id=31746&group_id=31748&cat_id=55405.
