Earthwatch honoured to be named as beneficiary of Royal Wedding Charitable Gift Fund
Earthwatch is one of 26 charities selected by Prince William and Miss Middleton to be recipients of the charitable gift fund set up for those who may wish, very generously to donate to charity to help the couple celebrate their wedding.
Having been touched by the goodwill shown them since the announcement of their engagement, Prince William and Miss Middleton have asked that anyone who might wish to give them a wedding gift consider giving instead to a charitable fund.
Young volunteers at work on the Earthwatch project 'Unearthing Roman Britain'.
Nigel Winser, Executive Vice President of Earthwatch expressed his delight on hearing the news: "Earthwatch is proud to be chosen by Prince William and Miss Middleton as one of the beneficiaries of this charitable fund. The deep care that the couple have for the environment is valued by the worldwide Earthwatch community and our good wishes are extended to them both on the occasion of their wedding."
"The young volunteers we work with are the world's future environmental stewards," Winser said. "We applaud Prince William and Miss Middleton in their efforts to shine a light on the issues of young people and the environment because we need to energize the world's youth toward action, not apathy, in the face of the greatest environmental challenges the planet has ever seen."
Monitoring dolphins in the Amvrakikos Gulf, Greece.
Earthwatch, a pioneer of "citizen science" whereby volunteers work side-by-side with scientists on research projects worldwide, celebrates its 40th anniversary this year. Since 1971, more than 96,000 volunteers have contributed millions of hours to scientific research projects around the globe.
Earthwatch's research portfolio-addressing ocean conservation, climate change, ecosystem management and preservation of cultural heritage-includes a robust programme specifically for teachers, students and teenagers.
Earthwatch's share of the funds raised through donations of wedding guests and members of the public to the Royal Wedding Charitable Fund, will be donated to Earthwatch in support of the charity's UK-based educational programmes.
Donations can be made via the website www.royalweddingcharityfund.org which includes a full list of the charities to benefit, personally chosen by Prince William and Miss Middleton.
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Press contact
For further information, images and interviews please contact
Jo-Anne Croft - Earthwatch PR Manager
jcroft@earthwatch.org.uk
Direct line +44 (0)1865 318806
Press Office +44 (0)1865 318852
Mobile +44 (0)7981 682871
Notes to editors
Founded in 1971, Earthwatch is an international environmental organisation whose mission is to engage people worldwide in scientific field research and education to promote the understanding and action necessary for a sustainable environment. Our vision is a world in which we live within our means and in balance with nature.
Earthwatch currently supports 61 environmental research projects in 29 countries by providing funds and paying volunteers who work alongside leading field scientists and researchers. In the past 40 years, Earthwatch volunteers have contributed over 10 million hours to essential fieldwork.
To ensure our research addresses pressing global environmental issues, Earthwatch preferentially funds projects that fit the focus of one or more of the following priority research areas: ecosystem services, climate change, oceans and cultural heritage.