Earthwatch R.O.A.R.s again with Animal Planet’s donation-matching campaign
For the second year running, Earthwatch supporters will see their donations matched through Animal Planet’s eight-week R.O.A.R. campaign.
UPDATE, September 18, 2012:
Due to the tremendous early success of the 2012 R.O.A.R. campaign, matching funds from Animal Planet have now been claimed, but partner organizations will continue to compete for $2,500 “bonus awards” in September and October for the highest monthly number of donors, highest monthly dollar total raised from donors, and highest number of monthly shares of the campaign on Facebook.
From September 1 through the end of October 2012, donations made to Earthwatch through a special GlobalGiving webpage will be matched (up to a total of $120,000 to be shared among all campaign partners) by Animal Planet’s non-profit initiative, R.O.A.R. (Reach Out. Act, Respond.).
The matching campaign is funded by proceeds of Animal Planet licensed products, which include pet and lifestyle products, and is hosted by GlobalGiving - a non-profit that connects donors with grassroots projects around the world.
This year, donations to Earthwatch will be given in honor of the work of researchers and volunteers striving to preserve the endangered giant panda at the Ya’an Bifengxia Panda Base in Chengdu, China and in China’s Wolong National Nature Reserve, and in support of Earthwatch conservation research projects helping protect animals and their habitats worldwide.
As Earthwatch Scientist Prof. Zhang Hemin explains, “According to the latest national survey, there are approximately 1,590 wild giant pandas left in the world. The Wolong National Nature Reserve is the largest giant panda reserve in the world, covering an area of 2,000 square kilometers. Our primary mission is to protect and conserve the giant panda, and Earthwatchers’ support of this work greatly facilitates our efforts by helping us monitor and collect data on those pandas that are candidates for introduction to the wild.”
As with all the Earthwatch projects that will be supported by matched donations, Saving Giant Pandas in China with Earthwatch gives non-scientists a hands-on opportunity to directly affect endangered or threatened animals’ lives for the better. As Earthwatcher Nancy Martin, a 2012 volunteer on the project explains “Working with the pandas was a fabulous opportunity. I learned so much about pandas and can now talk with others about their plight and what can be done going forward.”
Each charity supported by R.O.A.R. is also eligible to compete for up to $20,000 in bonuses in various categories throughout the eight week campaign. The bonus categories include: Top Monthly Fundraiser – Dollar Amount ($5,000), Most Unique Number of Monthly Donations ($5,000), Spreading the Word – Highest Number of Shares on Facebook ($5,000), and Loudest R.O.A.R. Heard by Judges ($5,000). Earthwatch will engage its worldwide community of nearly 100,000 expedition participants, researchers, supporters, and partners via its presence on Facebook and Twitter to make sure its voice is heard in these aspects of the campaign.
Earthwatch has directed prior R.O.A.R. contributions to support a range of research projects that help protect animals at risk, including the pink dolphins, giant river otters, and macaws of Peru's Amazon, the fosa of Madagascar, sea turtles in Costa Rica, Mexico, Australia, and Trinidad, and large animals such as rhinos, lions, and elephants in Kenya. By adding the iconic, bamboo-chewing giant panda as a representative of its efforts on behalf of animals worldwide, Earthwatch hopes to reach out to even more people who love animals everywhere and, with the help of Animal Planet and GlobalGiving, provide new ways to take action and respond to the growing need for animal champions.
About R.O.A.R
Established in 2006, Animal Planet’s R.O.A.R., is dedicated to improving the lives of animals in our communities and in the wild. The R.O.A.R. partners benefiting from this program help wild and domestic animals in the U.S. and abroad. The campaign aligns Animal Planet with a powerful roster of leading animal and environmental organizations. R.O.A.R. is a key component of Discovery's overall Impact initiative which strives to celebrate, support and sustain the majesty of the earth's people, animals and natural beauty through innovative programs and events. For more information about how Discovery is making an impact, please visit:
impact.discovery.com.
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