Earthwatch Named as Beneficiary of Royal Wedding Charitable Gift Fund
Boston, MA, March 16, 2011—Boston-based international environmental organization Earthwatch is one of 26 charities selected by Prince William and Miss Middleton to be recipients of a charitable gift fund set up for those who may wish to donate to charity to help the couple celebrate their wedding.
Ed Wilson, President and CEO of Earthwatch, said, "Funds given to Earthwatch in honor of the wedding will enable us to raise the platform of our mission to engage people across the globe in research so that we can continue to tackle the world’s greatest environmental threats using objective, science-based solutions.”
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 program specifically for teachers, students and teenagers.
Earthwatch’s share of the funds raised through donations of wedding guests and members of the public will be used to support Earthwatch’s educational programs.
Nigel Winser, Executive Vice President of Earthwatch, said, “The young volunteers we work with are the world’s future environmental stewards. 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.”
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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Media Contact: Kristen Kusek, +1 978-450-1281, kkusek@earthwatch.org
About Earthwatch (www.earthwatch.org). Founded in 1971, Earthwatch is an international environmental organization 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.